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Rescue teams have safely led all of the last hikers near the eastern slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to a secure location, along with numerous of local guides and livestock handlers, officials announced. This concludes one of the biggest search-and-rescue efforts ever undertaken in the area.

Massive Evacuation Operation Completed

Hundreds of hikers were left stranded in thick snow over the past few days in the secluded Karma valley, after an exceptionally powerful snowstorm unleashed significant snowfall across the region.

Snow persisted throughout Saturday in the valley, which sits at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had guided approximately 350 hikers to security.

Previous accounts had suggested that the last group of roughly 200 travelers were expected to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, in addition to more than 300 escorts, yak herders, and other crew members were evacuated, according to authoritative reports released on Tuesday late in the day.

Survivors Recount Harsh Conditions

One from China trekker shared how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, forcing them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They decided to move to lower ground on Sunday as the weather deteriorated.

“On the way, we encountered our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we found out the snow was intense in the valley, too; local residents, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Expedition Plans Disrupted

The blizzard also disrupted the plans of mountaineers led by a American climbing outfit to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and Nepal.

Visitor Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first discovered by western travelers a long time ago. In the past few years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant visitor attraction, the area has brought in an rising number of tourists. More than 540,000 tourists explored the Everest region last year, setting a all-time high.

Region Still Closed

The Everest region continues to be for the time being closed to the public, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Impact

The intense snowfall over the weekend also impacted many of travelers in other parts of the western regions of China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual succumbed, due to a combination of hypothermia and high-altitude illness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a peak season for the area, with normally clear and moderate weather, but one member of an 18-person expedition team that got back to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “not normal.”