Hundreds of hikers remain trapped on Mount Everest after a snowstorm ripped into the area over the weekend.
Rescue workers have successfully evacuated many others who were previously stranded on the mountain. As of Sunday, approximately 350 people made it down the mountain to the Tibetan town of Qudang, Chinese state media reported. They had reportedly returned safely by noon local time on Monday.
At that time, the local government was continuing rescue operations for 200 others who were still stuck at the Everest Scenic Area, which is on the Tibetan side of the border.
Nepalese authorities told The Kathmandu Post on Monday that all tourists visiting Mount Everest in their region were safe, and that trekking towards the Everest Base Camp had restarted.
A blizzard hit the eastern side of the mountain in Tibet on Friday night and into Saturday, leaving hundreds of people who were at campsites stranded. Video footage of the area, released by Reuters, showed hikers trekking through a heavy blizzard and knee-deep snow.
“It was the most extreme weather I’ve ever faced in all my hiking experiences, without question,” Dong Shuchang, a Chinese trekker, said on Weibo, according to The Guardian.
The snowstorm happened to hit the region during the eight-day National Day holiday in China. Many tourists had flocked to the area for the weeklong holiday.
The strong blizzard was unusual for this time of year.
“It was so wet and cold in the mountains, and hypothermia was a real risk,” Chen Geshuang, who was part of a trekking team that was evacuated to Qudang, told Reuters. “The weather this year is not normal. The guide said he had never encountered such weather in October. And it happened all too suddenly.”
Authorities said on Sunday that they were in contact with the hikers stuck on the mountain, and that the hikers had enough supplies for now. Chinese state media reported that the remaining hikers will reach Qudang in stages, with the help of rescue workers.
Tourist areas, including the Mount Everest Scenic Area, are closed until further notice because of snowy and icy conditions, officials announced on Sunday.
Mount Everest is considered to be the highest mountain on the planet. Last year, the number of tourists visiting the mountain reached a record high of more than 540,00, according to Chinese state media.
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