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Emergency crews have successfully guided all of the last trekkers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to safety, along with scores of regional escorts and animal tenders, officials stated. This wraps up one of the biggest search-and-rescue missions ever seen in the area.

Large-Scale Evacuation Effort Completed

Several hundred of trekkers were became trapped in deep snow over the past few days in the secluded Karma valley, after an unusually intense winter blast dumped substantial snowfall across the territory.

Snow kept coming down all day Saturday in the valley, which sits at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had guided approximately 350 hikers to safety.

Previous accounts had suggested that the last group of roughly 200 hikers were expected to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, coupled with more than 300 escorts, animal handlers, and other support staff were evacuated, according to authoritative reports released on Tuesday evening.

Survivors Recount Extreme Conditions

One from China traveler shared how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, obliging them to clear it every 90 minutes. They decided to go down on Sunday as the weather deteriorated.

“On the way, we encountered our guide’s father, who had come looking for him. That’s when we learned the snow was heavy in the valley, too; community members, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Expedition Plans Disrupted

The snowstorm also hindered the goals of climbers guided by a US-based expedition company to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and the nation of Nepal.

Visitor Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first explored by western travelers a century ago. In the past few years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a major travel destination, the area has drawn an growing number of travelers. More than 540,000 sightseers traveled to the Everest region last year, marking a unprecedented number.

Area Still Closed

The Everest region is still temporarily off-limits to the visitors, including the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Effect

The significant snowfall over the weekend also influenced hundreds of hikers in other parts of the western regions of China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual lost their life, due to a blend of low body temperature and acute mountain sickness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a high season for the area, with typically clear and pleasant weather, but one trekker of an 18-person expedition team that returned safely to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “atypical.”