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Hikers have recounted encountering "extreme" situations after an unseasonable snowstorm during one of China's most crowded festive periods trapped hundreds of people on Mount Everest, triggering a massive rescue operation.

Evacuation Efforts Underway

Chinese authorities reported that around 350 individuals had descended safely but at least 200 were still trapped at the Everest Scenic Area, situated to the eastern side of the mountain, on the Tibet side of the border.

Large groups of tourists had traveled to the area for "Golden Week," an week-long festive break in China. However, local officials, who control the Tibetan Autonomous Region, confirmed intense snow had affected the area on Friday and Saturday night, stranding numerous of people at campsites at an elevation of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"It was the most extreme weather I've ever faced in all my trekking experiences, undoubtedly," a Chinese trekker said on social media, describing a "intense blizzard on the east face" of Everest.

"Glancing upward in the late hours and saw that the snow had almost buried the top," said another trekker on Xiaohongshu. "It was the first time I truly felt the fear of being engulfed by snow."

Personal Accounts

A hiker from China said their party had been "too scared to sleep" on that night as snow quickly piled up around their tents, compelling them to clear it hourly. They decided to go down on the next day as the weather worsened.

"During the descent, we met our guide’s parent who had searched for him. That's when we discovered the snow was heavy in the lowlands too; locals, unable to reach their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned."

The northern and eastern side of Everest is more accessible than locations on the neighboring side of the border and draws high numbers of tourists for less technical hiking, not requiring ascent of the peak.

Online Documentation

Photos and video shared on the internet showed tents covered by snow and lines of hikers moving through waist-high snowbanks to get down the mountain.

"The snow was extremely thick, and the trail very slick. Hikers stumbled frequently – some fell, others were bumped by pack animals," noted a trekker, who added that everyone made it down and were picked up by bus.

Latest Developments

By Sunday afternoon, about 350 people had arrived in Qudang, a small town about 30 miles away from the Tibetan starting point of Everest, "safe and sound," state media reported.

At least 200 additional remained trapped but had been reached, the updates said. Local news stated that hundreds of rescuers had gone up the mountain to assist those trapped and clear snow from blocking the exit route.

Officials provided minimal updates or updated information about the rescue effort on Monday. Uncertainty remained if the storm had impacted individuals on the northern side of Everest, also in Tibet. The region is strictly regulated by the authorities, and journalistic access is restricted. The conditions also seemed to have disrupted local communications, with attempts to contact shops failing. Several trekkers reported power was out in Qudang when they reached the town.

Weather Patterns

October is a busy period for the area, with typically clear and mild weather, but one trekker, among 18 members of a trekking group that returned to Qudang, said that the weather this year was "not normal."

"The guide told us he had not experienced conditions like this in the fall. And it happened all too suddenly."

The regional travel department announced admissions and access to the Everest Scenic Area were halted from the weekend.

Broader Effects

Adjacent nations were affected as well by severe conditions. Torrential downpours caused landslides and flash floods that have blocked roads, washed away bridges, and killed at least 47 people since the start of the weekend in the neighboring country.