A powerful snowstorm has struck the Himalayan region, leaving nearly 1,000 people stranded at camps on the eastern side of Mount Everest, according to Chinese state media. Rescue operations are currently underway, and so far, about 350 people have been safely evacuated.
The BBC reported that hundreds of local villagers and rescue teams have been dispatched to clear thick snow in the affected area, which sits at an altitude of over 4,900 meters. Reuters cited local media saying the rescued individuals were guided to safety in a nearby town.
Heavy snowfall began last Friday night and intensified on the eastern slope of Mount Everest in Tibet, a popular destination for climbers and trekkers. One hiker told Reuters that conditions were “wet, cold, and dangerously hypothermic,” adding that the sudden weather change was highly unusual. Guides said such extreme snowfall in October is rare and came without warning.
China’s Blue Sky Rescue Team said they received emergency calls reporting collapsed tents and trekkers suffering from hypothermia due to the blizzard. Meanwhile, the BBC reported that the region is facing severe weather across the Himalayas — neighboring Nepal has been hit by torrential rains, triggering landslides and floods that destroyed bridges and claimed at least 47 lives in the past two days.
