A severe snowstorm has left hundreds of climbers stranded on Mount Everest, prompting large-scale rescue operations to evacuate those trapped on the mountain’s eastern side.
Rescue teams have been deployed to assist trekkers and climbers after heavy precipitation forced thousands into emergency situations. Chinese state media reported that over 350 individuals had reached safety in the Qudang township, while contact was maintained with more than 200 others still in peril. The storm, which began on Friday evening, brought extreme cold and wet conditions to the region, posing significant risks of hypothermia.
Chen Geshuang, part of an 18-member trekking group, described the ordeal as “unusual” and “sudden,” noting that guides had never encountered such weather in October. Rescue teams, including Tibet’s Blue Sky Rescue, worked to stabilize camps and transport stranded individuals to safer locations.
The crisis coincides with severe weather across the Himalayas, where neighboring Nepal has experienced deadly landslides and flash floods. Meanwhile, China’s Typhoon Matmo displaced 150,000 people. Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, remains a perilous destination despite its popularity, with recent years marked by overcrowding and environmental challenges.
