Nearly 1,000 people trapped on Mount Everest slopes — Rescue operation underway

Published by RawNews1st

A large-scale rescue operation is underway after a severe blizzard trapped nearly 1,000 trekkers and climbers on the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet, according to Chinese state media reports. 

Hundreds of people have already been safely guided to the township of Qudang, with rescuers working to reach and assist the remaining stranded individuals at altitudes above 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).  

Location: The incident occurred on the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet. 

Cause: A sudden, unusually intense blizzard began on Friday evening, intensifying over the weekend and cutting off access routes with heavy snowfall. 

Impact: The snowstorm trapped nearly 1,000 people, with heavy snow causing tents to collapse and some hikers to suffer from hypothermia, according to the London Evening Standard. 

Suspension of Activities: The local government suspended ticket sales and entry to the Everest Scenic Area due to the severe weather. 

As of Sunday, 350 trekkers had reached the small township of Qudang, while contact with the remaining 200-plus trekkers had been made.

Snowfall in the valley, which lies at an elevation averaging 4,200 metres (13,779 feet), began on Friday evening and persisted throughout Saturday.

Tibet’s Blue Sky Rescue team received a call for help saying that tents had collapsed due to heavy snow, and that some hikers were already suffering from hypothermia, Chinese state media reported.

Several trekkers stranded by a blizzard near the eastern face of Mount Everest have already been guided to safety by rescuers, it has been reported.

As of Sunday, 350 trekkers had reached the small township of Qudang, while contact with the remaining 200-plus trekkers had been made, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.