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Trekkers have described encountering "harsh" conditions after an unexpected blizzard during one of China's busiest festive periods trapped hundreds of individuals on Mount Everest, sparking a massive rescue operation.

Rescue Operations Underway

Chinese authorities stated that approximately 350 people had descended safely but at least 200 were still trapped at the Everest Scenic Area, located to the eastern side of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border.

Large groups of tourists had traveled to the area for "Golden Week," an week-long festive break in China. However, local officials, who control the Tibetan Autonomous Region, said intense snow had hit the area on Friday and Saturday night, stranding hundreds of people at tent sites at an altitude of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"It was the most extreme weather I've ever faced in all my hiking experiences, without question," Dong Shuchang stated on social media, describing a "intense snowstorm on the eastern slope" of Everest.

"I looked up in the late hours and saw that the accumulation had almost buried the peak," shared another trekker on a social platform. "It was the first time I truly felt the fear of being buried alive."

Personal Accounts

One Chinese trekker mentioned their group had been "too scared to sleep" on Saturday as snow rapidly built up around their shelters, forcing them to remove it every 90 minutes. They chose to descend on the next day as the weather worsened.

"During the descent, we encountered our guide’s parent who had searched for him. It was then we learned the snow was intense in the valley as well; villagers, unable to reach their children on the mountain, were extremely worried."

The northern and eastern side of Everest is more accessible than locations on the neighboring side of the border and draws high numbers of visitors for less technical trekking, not requiring ascent of the peak.

Visual Evidence

Images and footage shared on the internet showed tents covered by snow and lines of hikers walking through waist-high snowbanks to descend the mountain.

"The snow was very deep, and the trail very slick. Trekkers stumbled frequently – some fell, others were bumped by pack animals," said one, who clarified that everyone made it down and were picked up by bus.

Latest Developments

By the weekend, approximately 350 individuals had reached Qudang, a small town about 30 miles away from the Tibet-side base camp of Everest, "safe and sound," state media announced.

At least 200 more were still stranded but had been reached, the updates said. Media outlets reported that scores of rescuers had ascended the mountain to help people and clear snow from blocking the exit route.

There was minimal updates or updated information about the rescue effort on the following day. It was also not clear if the storm had impacted anyone on the north face of Everest, within the same region. The area is strictly regulated by the authorities, and media entry is limited. The conditions also seemed to have disrupted local communications, with attempts to contact shops not connecting. A number of hikers said power was out in Qudang when they arrived.

Seasonal Context

Autumn is a peak season for the area, with typically clear and mild weather, but Chen Geshuang, one of 18 participants of a trekking group that returned to Qudang, commented that the climate this year was "unusual."

"Our leader said he had not experienced such weather in the fall. And it happened very abruptly."

The regional travel department announced ticket sales and entry to the Everest Scenic Area were halted from Saturday.

Regional Impact

Adjacent nations were also hit by extreme weather. Heavy rains caused mudslides and sudden flooding that have blocked roads, destroyed crossings, and killed at least 47 individuals since the start of the weekend in the neighboring country.