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Rescue teams have successfully guided all of the remaining trekkers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to safety, along with numerous of regional escorts and livestock handlers, authorities stated. This concludes one of the most extensive search-and-rescue efforts ever seen in the region.

Large-Scale Rescue Effort Completed

Several hundred of hikers were became trapped in thick snow over the past few days in the remote Karma valley, after an exceptionally intense winter blast deposited substantial snowfall across the region.

Snow kept coming down throughout Saturday in the valley, which is located at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had led approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Initial updates had indicated that the remaining roughly 200 hikers were anticipated to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 hikers, along with more than 300 guides, yak herders, and other support staff were evacuated, according to official announcements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Those Rescued Describe Extreme Situations

One Chinese trekker recalled how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, forcing them to clear it every 90 minutes. They chose to descend on Sunday as the weather deteriorated.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had set out for him. That’s when we realized the snow was intense in the valley, too; villagers, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were very anxious.”

Expedition Schedules Thwarted

The severe weather also thwarted the goals of mountaineers led by a US-based expedition company to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between China and the nation of Nepal.

Visitor Increase in the Region

Karma valley was first visited by international adventurers a long time ago. In modern times, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant tourism attraction, the area has attracted an increasing number of tourists. More than 540,000 tourists traveled to the Everest region last year, establishing a all-time high.

Region Remains Closed

The Everest region remains for the time being off-limits to the visitors, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Impact

The significant snowfall over the weekend also influenced many of travelers in other parts of the western regions of China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual succumbed, due to a blend of exposure and acute mountain sickness.

Unusual Conditions

October is typically a busy season for the area, with typically fine and mild weather, but one participant of an 18-person hiking party that got back to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “unusual.”