Heavy snowfall on the eastern slopes of Mount Everest has trapped hundreds of trekkers and left rescuers scrambling to reach them, after a sudden blizzard swept through Tibet during China’s Golden Week holiday.
At least 350 hikers have been evacuated, while another 200 remain stranded, according to Chinese state media. Authorities say they are in contact with those still stuck in the mountains, though conditions remain dangerous.
The snow began late on Friday and quickly intensified, blanketing trails and cutting off routes in the Karama Valley, a popular trekking area that leads to the eastern face of Everest.
Local officials said hundreds of rescuers and villagers have been deployed to clear the heavy snow and open access roads. Images shared by state broadcasters showed bulldozers struggling through thick drifts as visibility dropped sharply.
Trekkers Caught Unprepared
The storm struck at the height of the holiday week, when many Chinese tourists travel to the Himalayas. October is usually one of the safest times to hike the mountain’s lower slopes — temperatures are cold but stable, and skies are typically clear.
“This is completely unexpected,” said one mountain guide reached by phone. “October is our busiest season. Nobody imagined we’d get snowfall like this.”
Several guides have warned that some trekkers risk hypothermia if rescue operations are delayed further.
“We’ve been awake most of the night,” one camper told the BBC. “The snow kept piling up against our tents — we’ve had to clear it every ten minutes just to avoid getting trapped.”
Regional Impact
The blizzard has also brought disruption across the Himalayas. On the Nepalese side of Everest, torrential rain and flash floods have killed at least 47 people since Friday, according to government officials. Dozens more remain missing as rivers overflow and landslides block mountain roads.
Rescue teams in both countries are contending with freezing temperatures, poor visibility, and unstable terrain.
Meteorologists said the storm system was unusually strong for October and warned that more snow and rain could fall in the coming days.
For now, the focus remains on reaching those still stranded. As one Tibetan official told state media, “We are racing against time — and against the weather.”
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