Rescue teams in Tibet have safely evacuated all trekkers who were stranded near the eastern face of Mount Everest after a massive snowstorm hit the region. The large-scale operation took place in Karma Valley, a remote Tibetan area, where hundreds of hikers, local guides, and yak herders were trapped by heavy snowfall over the weekend.
According to local authorities, all remaining trekkers were brought to safety on Tuesday, marking the end of one of the biggest rescue missions in the Tibetan region. The snowstorm began on Saturday, covering the valley — located at an altitude of about 4,200 meters (13,800 feet) — with deep snow and harsh winds. Rescuers had already guided about 350 people to safety by Sunday, and the rest, including roughly 200 hikers, were rescued by Tuesday.
The official Xinhua news agency reported that a total of 580 trekkers and over 300 local staff, including guides and yak herders, were evacuated from the site. Tibetan firefighters played a key role in the rescue, navigating through difficult terrain and freezing conditions to locate those trapped.
The severe weather also affected climbers attempting to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between Tibet and Nepal. Their expedition, organized by U.S.-based Madison Mountaineering, was halted due to the blizzard.
Karma Valley, a region first explored by Western travelers nearly a century ago, has grown into a major attraction for adventure tourism in recent years. The Tibetan authorities have reported record-breaking numbers of visitors, with more than 540,000 tourists exploring the Everest region last year alone.
As a safety measure, the Everest region in Tibet — including Karma Valley, Rongshar Valley, and Cho Oyu — has been temporarily closed to the public following the storm. Heavy snowfall also impacted hikers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu, where at least one person died from hypothermia and altitude sickness.
The successful evacuation highlights the efficiency and coordination of Tibetan rescue teams in dealing with extreme mountain weather, ensuring the safety of both locals and international visitors.
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