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Search parties have successfully guided all of the remaining trekkers near the eastern slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to a secure location, including scores of local guides and yak herders, local government reported. This wraps up one of the largest search-and-rescue efforts ever seen in the zone.

Massive Rescue Operation Concluded

Several hundred of hikers were left stranded in deep snow over the weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an unusually powerful snowstorm unleashed heavy snowfall across the area.

Snow persisted all day Saturday in the valley, which is located at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had guided approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Earlier reports had estimated that the remaining roughly 200 travelers were anticipated to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, coupled with more than 300 escorts, livestock herders, and other assistants were rescued, according to official announcements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Survivors Recount Extreme Situations

One Chinese traveler described how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, obliging them to remove it every 90 minutes. They chose to descend on Sunday as the conditions became more severe.

“On the way, we encountered our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we learned the snow was intense in the valley, too; villagers, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were very anxious.”

Expedition Schedules Thwarted

The blizzard also thwarted the goals of climbers led by a United States mountaineering firm to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between the People's Republic of China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first explored by foreign travelers a long time ago. In recent years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a major travel attraction, the area has attracted an rising number of visitors. More than 540,000 sightseers traveled to the Everest region last year, establishing a new record.

Region Remains Closed

The Everest region remains temporarily closed to the visitors, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Impact

The intense snowfall over the weekend also impacted hundreds of travelers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one traveler died, due to a blend of hypothermia and high-altitude illness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a busy season for the area, with usually sunny and mild weather, but one member of an 18-person expedition team that made it back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “atypical.”