Tibet: A sudden, fierce blizzard has left nearly a thousand people stranded on the eastern slope of Mount Everest on Tibet’s side, authorities and state media reported Sunday. Rescuers are racing against time and worsening weather to reach remote camps cut off by deep snow and blocked routes.
The snowfall began late Friday evening and intensified through Saturday, dumping heavy accumulations at elevations above 4,900 meters (approximately 16,000 feet). Roads and tracks used for access to campsites were buried and impassable. Local officials said they mobilized hundreds of rescuers and villagers to dig out snow, reopen passages, and guide climbers to safety.
By Sunday, about 350 people had been evacuated to the nearby mountain town of Qudang. Others are in contact with rescue teams and are expected to arrive in stages. Some tents in the stranded camps reportedly collapsed under the weight of snow, leaving climbers vulnerable to hypothermia. One trekker, Chen Geshuang, who made it down with his group, said “it was so wet and cold in the mountains, and hypothermia was a real risk.” He added that even the guide said he had never seen weather like this in October.
Authorities also suspended ticket sales and restricted entry to the Everest Scenic Area starting late Saturday, according to notices from local tourism officials. The suddenness and strength of the storm surprised many climbers and guides, who had prepared for the region’s usual October patterns, when skies tend to clear after the monsoon ends.
The region is now locked in a delicate balance: rescue teams must push forward under dangerous conditions, while climbers wait, exposed and anxious. Many of those stranded are foreign trekkers, local guides, and support personnel. The altitude, cold, and unpredictability of the mountain make each passing hour riskier.
The situation in neighboring Nepal is also dire. Heavy rains over the same period have triggered landslides and flash floods, leaving at least 47 people dead and many more missing.Roads have been washed out, bridges destroyed, and communities cut off. The twin disasters—storm on Everest and flooding in Nepal—underscore how extreme weather can strike with deadly force in the Himalayas.
As of Sunday, Chinese state media confirmed ongoing rescue operations, with local governments coordinating efforts and deploying resources to push through snow and bring more people down. Officials say those still stranded will arrive gradually in Qudang under guidance and support.
For many now safe, warmth, food, and medical care are immediate priorities. For those still waiting, each hour carries danger: frostbite, exhaustion, and worsening weather loom. Rescuers are racing not just against snow, but against cold and time itself, hoping that no more lives are lost before this nightmare ends.
Source: The Guardian
