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Trekkers have recounted encountering "harsh" conditions after an unexpected snowstorm during one of China's most crowded festive periods trapped numerous of individuals on Mount Everest, sparking a massive rescue operation.

Evacuation Efforts In Progress

Chinese authorities reported that around 350 individuals had made their way down but at least 200 were still trapped at the Everest Scenic Area, located to the east of the mountain, on the Tibet side of the border.

Large groups of visitors had traveled to the area for "Golden Week," an eight-day holiday period in China. However, Chinese authorities, who administer the Tibetan Autonomous Region, said heavy snowfall had hit the area on the weekend, stranding hundreds of individuals at tent sites at an altitude of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"This was the harshest weather I've ever faced in all my trekking experiences, undoubtedly," Dong Shuchang said on social media, describing a "intense snowstorm on the east face" of Everest.

"Glancing upward in the late hours and noticed that the snow had almost covered the peak," said another trekker on Xiaohongshu. "That was the first time I genuinely experienced the terror of being engulfed by snow."

Personal Accounts

A hiker from China said their party had been "too frightened to sleep" on that night as accumulation rapidly built up around their shelters, forcing them to clear it every 90 minutes. They decided to descend on Sunday as the conditions deteriorated.

"On the way, we encountered our guide's father who had searched for him. That's when we learned the storm was heavy in the lowlands too; villagers, unable to reach their family on the mountain, were extremely worried."

The northern and eastern side of Everest is easier to reach than locations on the Nepal side of the border and draws large crowds of visitors for less technical hiking, not requiring ascent of the peak.

Online Documentation

Photos and video shared on the internet depicted shelters covered by snow and rows of hikers walking through deep snowbanks to descend the mountain.

"The snow was extremely thick, and the trail very slick. Hikers stumbled frequently – a few tumbled, some were jostled by pack animals," said one, who clarified that everyone made it down and were transported by bus.

Latest Developments

By Sunday afternoon, about 350 people had reached Qudang, a small town roughly 50 kilometers away from the Tibetan base camp of Everest, "safe and sound," official sources reported.

No fewer than 200 more were still stranded but had been reached, the updates said. Local news reported that hundreds of emergency workers had ascended the mountain to help people and remove accumulation from blocking the exit route.

There was minimal updates or updated information about the operation on Monday. Uncertainty remained if the storm had affected anyone on the northern side of Everest, within the same region. The area is tightly controlled by the authorities, and media entry is limited. The conditions also seemed to have disrupted local communications, with attempts to contact shops not connecting. A number of hikers reported electricity was cut in Qudang when they reached the town.

Seasonal Context

October is a busy period for the region, with typically calm and pleasant weather, but Chen Geshuang, among 18 members of a trekking group that returned to Qudang, commented that the weather this year was "unusual."

"Our leader said he had never encountered such weather in the fall. And it happened very abruptly."

The local tourism authority said admissions and access to the Everest Scenic Area were halted from Saturday.

Regional Impact

Neighbouring countries were affected as well by extreme weather. Heavy rains triggered mudslides and sudden flooding that have blocked roads, destroyed crossings, and killed at least 47 people since the start of the weekend in the neighboring country.