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Emergency crews have successfully guided all of the remaining trekkers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to safety, including hundreds of local guides and yak herders, officials stated. This wraps up one of the biggest rescue and recovery missions ever conducted in the region.

Massive Evacuation Effort Completed

Several hundred of hikers were found themselves stuck in thick snow over the weekend in the remote Karma valley, after an exceptionally fierce winter blast unleashed substantial snowfall across the area.

Snow continued to fall all day Saturday in the valley, which sits at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had led approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Previous accounts had estimated that the remaining roughly 200 individuals were anticipated to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 hikers, in addition to more than 300 local guides, livestock herders, and other crew members were rescued, according to government statements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Survivors Recount Harsh Conditions

One Chinese traveler shared how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, forcing them to clear it every 90 minutes. They chose to go down on Sunday as the weather deteriorated.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we learned the snow was intense in the valley, too; local residents, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Expedition Plans Thwarted

The blizzard also hindered the goals of climbers guided by a United States mountaineering company to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Visitor Increase in the Region

Karma valley was first discovered by western travelers a long time ago. In modern times, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent tourism draw, the area has drawn an increasing number of travelers. More than 540,000 tourists traveled to the Everest region last year, marking a all-time high.

Area Remains Off-Limits

The Everest region continues to be currently off-limits to the visitors, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Impact

The significant snowfall over the weekend also influenced hundreds of trekkers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one person succumbed, due to a blend of exposure and high-altitude illness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a peak season for the area, with normally sunny and moderate weather, but one participant of an 18-person expedition team that got back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “atypical.”