NEED TO KNOW
- Over 650 people in campsites became trapped on Mount Everest when a blizzard unexpectedly hit on Friday, Oct. 3
- As of Sunday, 350 people reached the small township of Qudang, while 200 remained stranded on Everest’s eastern slopes in Tibet
- “The weather this year is not normal,” said climber Chen Geshuang, per Reuters. “The guide said he had never encountered such weather in October”
At least 200 people remain stranded on Mount Everest after a blizzard trapped climbers in campsites on the Tibetan slopes over the weekend.
Mountain guides were caught off guard when heavy snowfall and rain hit the Tibetan valley that leads towards Mount Everest’s eastern face on Friday. More than 650 people were trapped in campsites amid the snowstorm, which came during China’s eight-day Golden Week holiday.
As of Sunday, Oct. 5, 350 trekkers reached the small township of Qudang and authorities made contact with the remaining 200 people, the BBC and CCN reported, citing Chinese media outlet CCTV.
“It was so wet and cold in the mountains, and hypothermia was a real risk,” said Chen Geshuang, who was among those who made it to Qudang, per 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.”
The eastern side of Mount Everest sits at an altitude of about 16,000 feet and is popular with hikers and climbers, while the north face attracts tourists due to its easy access by paved road. October is one of the peak seasons for visiting Everest due to the clear skies.
Tibet’s Firefighting Department was among the teams sent to rescue people when the snowstorm unexpectedly struck on Friday. According to the BBC, rescuers have been seen carrying struggling walkers on their backs and the snow has made routes unrecognizable for everyone who isn’t local.
Those recently rescued are in “good condition” and have been accommodated, China Daily reported, citing authorities.
Eric Wen, who is among those rescued, recalled that his group “hardly slept” because of how heavy it was snowing. He added that they had to clear the snow every 10 minutes.
“Otherwise our tents would have collapsed,” he said, per Reuters.
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As snowfall persisted on Saturday, the travel plans of some hikers were affected in the Gamagou area of Qudang, according to China Daily. Dingri County Government mobilized teams to ensure their safety.
The remaining stranded hikers are expected to arrive in Qudang in stages, assisted by rescuers organized by the local government, per Reuters.
To the south of Tibet in Nepal, severe weather triggered flash flooding and deadly landslides that left at least 47 people dead over the weekend, CNN reported.
A separate landslide killed 35 people in the eastern Ilam district bordering India, while three others died due to lightning strikes in other areas of the country and nine people were reported missing.
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