Rescue Operation Underway for Hundreds of Hikers Trapped by Heavy Snow on Mount Everest’s Tibetan Slope

Chinese rescuers are racing against time to reach hundreds of hikers stranded by a sudden snowstorm on the Tibetan slope of Mount Everest, state media reported late Sunday. The heavy snowfall struck as hundreds of tourists were camping in the area during China’s weeklong National Day holiday, leaving many trapped at high altitude.

According to state broadcaster CCTV, around 350 hikers have been safely escorted to a meeting point in Tingri County, while rescuers remain in contact with another 200 still awaiting evacuation. No official update on the rescue effort was available as of Monday morning.

The hikers were reportedly stranded at elevations above 4,900 meters (16,000 feet), according to Jimu News, an online Chinese outlet. Mount Everest, known in China as Mount Qomolangma, stands at 8,850 meters (29,000 feet) and straddles the border between China and Nepal.

One hiker who managed to descend before conditions worsened told Jimu News that snow on the mountain had reached depths of up to one meter (three feet), crushing several tents and blocking descent routes. “It was chaos — people were trying to find safe paths down before the storm made it impossible,” the hiker said.

Hundreds of rescuers, accompanied by horses and oxen, were seen in videos trudging up snow-covered paths to reach those stranded. The footage, shot by a villager, showed long lines of rescuers navigating winding trails under harsh conditions.

The storm coincided with China’s National Day holiday, when millions travel domestically and abroad, often visiting popular destinations such as Tibet’s high-altitude scenic spots.

Meanwhile, in another mountainous region in China’s Qinghai province, one hiker died of hypothermia and altitude sickness, while 137 others were evacuated from the Menyuan county area, where altitudes average more than 4,000 meters (13,100 feet). CCTV said rescue efforts there were hampered by rugged terrain, poor visibility, and ongoing snowfall.

The snowstorm comes amid a series of natural disasters in the region. Across the border in Nepal, heavy rains have killed more than 40 people in recent weeks, while in January, a powerful earthquake in Tibet claimed at least 126 lives.

Mount Everest’s Chinese base camp, located in Tibet, caters primarily to mountaineers attempting the summit, while the trapped hikers were at separate tourist camps lower on the slopes.

Tibet remains one of China’s most remote and politically sensitive regions, with Beijing investing heavily in infrastructure and tourism. The region has also seen tight government control since the Dalai Lama fled to India following a failed uprising in 1959.