A powerful snowstorm surprised hundreds of people on the Tibetan slopes of Mount Evereste, forcing Chinese authorities to launch one of the largest altitude rescue operations in recent years.
The meteorological phenomenon occurred during the Golden Week holiday, one of the busiest periods of domestic tourism in China, when hundreds of visitors agreed to the mountainous region to admire the roof landscape of the world. Which promised to be an unforgettable adventure became an emergency scenario.
According to emergency services, about 350 people were rescued alive until Sunday night, while approximately 200 are still awaiting help. Rescue teams, composed of hundreds of local professionals and volunteers, face extreme conditions, with accumulated snow over one meter and negative temperatures that make it difficult to access isolated camps.
Authorities confirmed at least one deadly victim. For many survivors, the night was spent inside the tents, partially buried by the snow, while waiting for help.
According to travelers reports, the storm has come suddenly, leaving little time to react. “The wind and snow suddenly began. Tents shook and visibility disappeared in minutes,” one of the tour, quoted by local media, described.
The Tibetan government temporarily suspended tourist visits to the area and is mobilizing specialized equipment, cargo animals and drones to accelerate searches. The goal is to remove all visitors before the arrival of new cold fronts scheduled for the coming days.
Meteorologists have classified the episode as atypical for this time of year, stressing that climate change have become increasingly unpredictable the conditions in the mountainous regions of Asia.
While operations continue, images that come from Evereste’s slopes show the strength of nature and recall human vulnerability in the face of extreme events.
❄️ Hundreds of trekkers trapped by a blizzard near Mount Everest’s eastern face in Tibet have been rescued.
Around 350 reached Qudang township, and contact has been made with over 200 others after heavy snow and rain hit the Himalayas.
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1)
