🔗 Share this article Mount Everest Trekkers Report 'Severe' Weather as Massive Operation Continues Trekkers have recounted encountering "harsh" conditions after an unexpected blizzard during one of China's most crowded holiday weekends trapped numerous of individuals on Mount Everest, sparking a large-scale rescue operation. Rescue Operations Underway Officials in China stated that around 350 individuals had made their way down but at least 200 were still trapped at the Everest Scenic Area, situated to the east of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border. Large groups of visitors had journeyed to the area for "Golden Week," an eight-day holiday period in China. However, Chinese authorities, who administer the Tibetan Autonomous Region, confirmed heavy snowfall had affected the area on the weekend, trapping hundreds of people at tent sites at an altitude of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet). "This was the harshest weather I've experienced in all my hiking experiences, without question," a Chinese trekker said on social media, detailing a "intense snowstorm on the eastern slope" of Everest. "I looked up in the late hours and saw that the snow had nearly buried the top," said another trekker on Xiaohongshu. "That was the initial instance I genuinely experienced the terror of being buried alive." Personal Accounts A hiker from China said their party had been "too scared to sleep" on Saturday as snow rapidly built up around their tents, forcing them to remove it every 90 minutes. They chose to descend on Sunday as the weather worsened. "During the descent, we met our guide's father who had searched for him. That's when we discovered the storm was heavy in the lowlands too; locals, unable to reach their family on the mountain, were extremely worried." The northern and eastern side of Everest is easier to reach than locations on the neighboring side of the border and attracts high numbers of visitors for less technical hiking, without summiting the peak. Visual Evidence Images and footage shared on the internet showed shelters buried in snow and rows of hikers walking through deep snowbanks to descend the mountain. "It was very deep, and the trail very slick. Hikers often slipped – some fell, some were jostled by pack animals," noted a trekker, who clarified that all safely descended and were picked up by bus. Current Status By Sunday afternoon, about 350 individuals had arrived in Qudang, a small town roughly 50 kilometers away from the Tibet-side starting point of Everest, "safe and sound," official sources announced. At least 200 additional remained trapped but had been contacted, the reports indicated. Local news reported that scores of emergency workers had ascended the mountain to assist those trapped and clear snow from blocking the exit route. There was minimal updates or updated information about the rescue effort on Monday. It was also not clear if the weather had impacted anyone on the north face of Everest, also in Tibet. The region is strictly regulated by the Chinese government, and journalistic access is limited. The conditions also appears to have have affected phone services, with calls to local businesses not connecting. A number of hikers said power was out in Qudang when they reached the town. Weather Patterns October is a busy period for the area, with typically clear and mild conditions, but Chen Geshuang, one of 18 members of a trekking group that made it back to Qudang, commented that the weather this year was "unusual." "Our leader said he had not experienced such weather in October. And it happened very abruptly." The local tourism authority announced ticket sales and access to the Everest Scenic Area were suspended from Saturday. Broader Effects Adjacent nations were also hit by severe conditions. Heavy rains triggered landslides and sudden flooding that have blocked roads, washed away bridges, and killed at least 47 individuals since Friday in the neighboring country.