Hundreds of trekkers rescued after blizzard on Tibetan side of Mount Everest
Mount Everest rises behind foothills, as seen from near the Tibetan town of Shegar, in 2008. (Photo: Reuters/David Gray)
BEIJING: Hundreds of trekkers stranded by a sudden blizzard on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest have been rescued, Chinese state media reported on Sunday (Oct 5), as heavy rain and snow battered the Himalayas.
State broadcaster CCTV said 350 trekkers had reached the township of Qudang, while contact had been established with more than 200 others who were being guided to safety.
Visitors had been trekking in the remote Karma Valley, which leads to the eastern Kangshung face of Everest, during China’s week-long National Day holiday.
Snow began falling on Friday evening and continued through Saturday, blanketing the area, which sits at an elevation of about 4,200 metres (13,800 feet).
MASSIVE RESCUE OPERATION
Local authorities dispatched hundreds of villagers and rescue teams to clear snow and reach the stranded tourists, according to state-backed Jimu News, which estimated that nearly 1,000 people had initially been trapped.
“The remaining trekkers will arrive in Qudang in stages under the guidance and assistance of rescuers,” CCTV said, adding that roads to the region remained difficult to navigate.
It was not immediately clear whether all local guides and support staff accompanying the groups had been accounted for.
Authorities also have yet to confirm whether climbers on the north face of Everest, a popular route accessible by paved road, were affected.
TOURIST ACCESS SUSPENDED
Ticket sales and entry to the entire Everest Scenic Area were suspended late Saturday, according to notices on official WeChat accounts for Tingri County’s tourism bureau.
October is one of the busiest months for visitors, as clear skies follow the end of the monsoon season.
To the south in Nepal, heavy rainfall triggered landslides and flash floods that have killed at least 47 people and caused widespread damage since Friday.
Thirty-five people were killed in separate landslides in the eastern Ilam district bordering India, while nine others were missing after being swept away by floodwaters.
Three people were also reported dead in lightning strikes elsewhere in the country, according to Nepalese authorities.
Emergency crews were working to clear roads and restore access to isolated mountain villages.
