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Hikers have recounted encountering "extreme" situations after an unexpected snowstorm during one of China's busiest holiday weekends trapped numerous of individuals on Mount Everest, triggering a massive rescue operation.

Evacuation Efforts Underway

Officials in China stated that approximately 350 individuals had made their way down but at least 200 remained stranded at the Everest Scenic Area, situated to the eastern side of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border.

Large groups of tourists had journeyed to the area for "Golden Week," an week-long festive break in China. However, Chinese authorities, who control the Tibetan Autonomous Region, said heavy snowfall had affected the area on the weekend, stranding numerous of people at campsites at an elevation of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"This was the most extreme weather I've experienced in all my hiking experiences, undoubtedly," Dong Shuchang stated on Weibo, detailing a "violent convective blizzard on the eastern slope" of Everest.

"I looked up in the late hours and saw that the snow had nearly covered the top," said another trekker on a social platform. "That was the first time I genuinely experienced the fear of being engulfed by snow."

Eyewitness Reports

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

"During the descent, we encountered our guide's father who had come looking for him. That's when we discovered the snow was heavy in the valley too; villagers, unable to reach their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned."

The northern and eastern side of Everest is easier to reach than sites on the neighboring side of the border and draws high numbers of visitors for easier trekking, without summiting the peak.

Visual Evidence

Images and footage posted online depicted tents covered by snow and lines of hikers walking through deep drifts to descend the mountain.

"It was extremely thick, and the trail extremely slippery. Hikers stumbled frequently – a few tumbled, others were bumped by yaks," noted a trekker, who clarified that everyone made it down and were transported by bus.

Latest Developments

By the weekend, about 350 people had reached Qudang, a village about 30 miles away from the Tibet-side base camp of Everest, "in good health," state media reported.

No fewer than 200 more remained trapped but had been contacted, the reports said. Local news reported that scores of rescuers had gone up the mountain to assist those trapped and clear snow from obstructing the way out.

Officials provided little official reporting or new details about the rescue effort on the following day. It was also not clear if the weather had affected anyone on the northern side of Everest, within the same region. The region is tightly controlled by the authorities, and journalistic access is restricted. The weather also appears to have have affected local communications, with calls to local businesses failing. Several trekkers reported power was out in Qudang when they reached the town.

Seasonal Context

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

"The guide told us he had not experienced conditions like this in the fall. And it happened very abruptly."

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

Broader Effects

Neighbouring countries were also hit by severe conditions. Heavy rains caused mudslides and flash floods that have blocked roads, destroyed crossings, and claimed the lives of at least 47 individuals since Friday in the neighboring country.