Hundreds Rescued After Snowstorm Strands Hikers on Mount Everest

A severe snowstorm struck the Chinese side of Mount Everest on Saturday night, trapping about 900 hikers, guides, and staff at altitudes exceeding 4,900 meters (16,000 feet). By Tuesday, all individuals had reached safety, according to state media reports.

The storm coincided with China's weeklong national holiday, leading to a high number of visitors in the region. Rescue operations faced challenges due to deep snow and limited visibility. Some hikers experienced hypothermia; approximately a dozen were assisted by teams providing food, medicine, heating, and oxygen supplies.

In response, authorities temporarily closed the scenic area of Mount Everest in Tibet. The 8,850-meter (29,000-foot) peak, the world's highest, straddles the border between China and Nepal.

In a related incident, a South Korean climber died during a weekend storm near the summit of Mera Peak, a 6,476-meter (21,250-foot) mountain south of Everest in Nepal.

Early-season snowstorms also affected other areas in western China over the weekend. In Qinghai province, more than 200 people were evacuated from a remote valley in the Qilian Mountains, where one person died from hypothermia and altitude sickness. Authorities have since warned against entering the undeveloped area without permission due to its difficult terrain and unpredictable weather.

In the Xinjiang region, the Kanas scenic area was closed after a snowstorm stranded motorists on a nearby highway. The road was cleared by Monday, state media reported.