Hundreds of hikers rescued from Mount Everest after blizzard
Hundreds of hikers, guides, and support staff who were stranded by a severe blizzard on the Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest have been successfully rescued. The snowstorm, which began Friday night and intensified over the weekend, trapped around 900 people including 580 hikers and over 300 guides and yak herders at elevations above 4,200 meters (around 16,000 feet) in the Karma Valley area on the Chinese side of the mountain.
Rescue teams battled heavy snowfall and harsh conditions, delivering food, medical supplies, oxygen, and heat while clearing snow to create pathways for evacuation.
About 350 hikers were evacuated by Sunday, and the rest were safely brought down by Tuesday, marking one of the largest search-and-rescue operations in recent Everest history. Some of the stranded hikers suffered hypothermia, and at least one hiker died from the storm in the region.
The rescue operation took place during China’s Golden Week holiday, a peak travel period, catching many climbers and trekkers off guard by the unexpected severe weather. Local authorities have temporarily closed the affected Everest regions for safety and recovery efforts.
