Post by : Rameen Ariff

Rescuers have safely evacuated all trekkers stranded near the east face of Mount Everest in Tibet, ending one of the largest search-and-rescue operations in the region. The evacuation included hundreds of hikers, local guides, sherpas, and yak herders who were trapped due to unusually heavy snowfall and harsh weather.

The incident occurred in the remote Karma Valley, which leads to Everest's eastern Kangshung face. Over the weekend, heavy snow and rainfall blocked almost 1,000 people in the Tingri region, a key route to the world’s tallest mountain. The valley, located at an average altitude of 4,200 metres (13,800 ft), had seen many visitors during China’s eight-day National Day holiday. By Sunday, rescuers had brought around 350 hikers to safety, while the remaining 200 trekkers and more than 300 support staff were evacuated by Tuesday, according to Xinhua.

The blizzard also affected climbers attempting Cho Oyu, an 8,188-metre (26,864-ft) peak on the China-Nepal border. Heavy snow disrupted hiking in other western Chinese regions, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. At least one death was reported due to hypothermia and acute mountain sickness. Authorities have temporarily closed Everest, Karma, Rongshar valleys, and Cho Oyu to the public.

For some trekkers, survival meant using cooking pots to dig out from collapsing tents. Feng Holiday, 30, recalled the intense storm with heavy snow, thunder, and lightning. She said, “By midnight, snow kept falling and my sleeping bag got damp. Our tents collapsed, and we had to dig out using only cooking pots to free our team.” Over three feet (95 cm) of snow fell at Everest’s summit on Saturday, nearly three times the usual weekly snowfall.

After a frightening night, Feng and her group started descending on Sunday morning with light packs, leaving tents and heavy gear behind. By 6:30 pm local time, they safely reached the foot of the mountain where local authorities were waiting. Videos on the Chinese social platform Xiaohongshu showed trekkers clearing snow from buried tents amid blizzard conditions.

The successful rescue highlights the dangers of trekking in extreme weather and the importance of quick emergency response in the Everest region.

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