Efforts to rescue individuals are currently taking place in the isolated slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet, where a snowstorm has left around 1,000 individuals stranded at camps on the mountain’s eastern side, as reported by Chinese state media.
Numerous local residents and rescue teams have been sent in to remove the snow that is obstructing access to the site, located at an elevation exceeding 4,900 metres (16,000 feet).
Local media indicates that approximately 350 individuals have been rescued and safely guided to the small township of Qudang, according to the Reuters news agency.
The heavy snowfall commenced on Friday evening and has escalated on the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet, a region favored by climbers and trekkers.
“It was extremely wet and cold – the risk of hypothermia was significant,” Chen Geshuang, a member of a trekking group that reached Qudang, shared with Reuters.
“The weather this year is unusual. The guide mentioned he had never seen such conditions in October. It occurred far too abruptly.”
The Blue Sky Rescue team in Tibet received an emergency call reporting that tents had collapsed under the weight of heavy snow, and some hikers were already experiencing hypothermia, as reported by Chinese state media.
Tingri County Tourism Company has halted ticket sales and access to the Everest Scenic Area since Saturday, according to the Reuters news agency.
The area is currently enduring severe weather conditions, while neighboring Nepal has faced heavy rainfall that caused landslides and flash floods, leading to the destruction of bridges and resulting in at least 47 fatalities in the past two days.
In China, Typhoon Matmo has made landfall, compelling around 150,000 individuals to evacuate their homes.
Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world at over 8,849m, attracts numerous climbers each year, yet it is deemed an exceptionally perilous climb.
In recent years, it has been beset by issues of overcrowding, environmental challenges, and a series of deadly climbing attempts.
