BEIJING, Oct 8: Over 850 hikers, guides, and porters stranded for three days in a severe blizzard on the Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest have been safely evacuated, according to Chinese official media.
The heavy snowfall trapped more than 1,000 trekkers in Dingri County, Xigaze City, in southwest Tibet’s autonomous region.
Local villagers and rescue teams worked together to evacuate 580 hikers and over 300 service personnel, including guides and yak herders, to safety in Qudeng Township and nearby areas, where authorities are arranging their return journeys.
The blizzard, which began Saturday, brought heavy snow that crushed tents and buried trails, making descent extremely difficult. One hiker was reported killed during the storm.
Most stranded trekkers were Chinese nationals, drawn to Tibet by the October 1 National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays.
The rescue efforts faced delays in news coverage due to the region’s remoteness, causing anxiety among relatives.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that additional hikers were helped by rescue personnel from nearby Tingri County. Local officials had mobilized teams to contact and assist stranded hikers at the base camp.
October is typically peak climbing season for Everest, known for mild weather, but the sudden blizzard caught even experienced mountaineers off guard. Snow accumulation exceeded one meter in some areas, blocking all descent routes from camps located in the remote Gama Valley, known for its primeval forests.
The northern slope of Everest, accessible by road, is the more popular route, while the southern route lies in Nepal. Meanwhile, Nepal has also faced extreme weather recently, with torrential rains causing landslides and floods that killed 60 people and disrupted infrastructure. (PTI)
