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Rescue teams have safely led all of the remaining hikers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in Tibet to a secure location, along with hundreds of regional escorts and livestock handlers, local government reported. This concludes one of the biggest rescue and recovery operations ever seen in the region.

Massive Evacuation Operation Completed

Several hundred of trekkers were became trapped in thick snow over the recent weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an exceptionally powerful snowstorm unleashed substantial snowfall across the area.

Snow persisted all day Saturday in the valley, which is located at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had led approximately 350 hikers to security.

Earlier reports had indicated that the last group of roughly 200 individuals were anticipated to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, along with more than 300 escorts, yak herders, and other support staff were brought out, according to government statements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Survivors Describe Harsh Situations

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

“On the way, we encountered our guide’s father, who had set out for him. That’s when we learned the snow was deep in the valley, too; local residents, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Climbing Plans Disrupted

The severe weather also disrupted the plans of alpinists led by a US-based climbing firm to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the frontier between the People's Republic of China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first discovered by western travelers a century ago. In recent years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant tourism attraction, the area has attracted an rising number of travelers. More than 540,000 tourists visited the Everest region last year, marking a new record.

Area Still Closed

The Everest region continues to be currently closed to the general public, including the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Impact

The intense snowfall over the weekend also affected hundreds of travelers in other parts of the western regions of China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one person lost their life, due to a combination of exposure and altitude sickness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a busy season for the area, with usually clear and moderate weather, but one participant of an 18-person trekking group that made it back to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “not normal.”