Rescue teams completed one of the largest mountain operations in Himalayan history on Tuesday. They safely evacuated all stranded hikers from Mount Everest's eastern slopes.
Workers began guiding groups to safety on Sunday. The final tourists reached secure areas by Tuesday afternoon.
Official reports confirm 580 hikers and over 300 local guides evacuated from the Karma Valley. The area sits at 4,200 meters elevation and experienced unusually heavy weekend snowfall.
Hikers became trapped above 4,900 meters when snow blocked routes on Everest's eastern face. October typically brings clear weather ideal for Himalayan trekking.
The storm surprised experienced mountain guides. It began Friday evening and intensified throughout the weekend.
A 27-year-old climber said he had visited the Himalayas over twelve times but never encountered such conditions. He made the statement during a rescue briefing.
Neighboring Nepal faced separate weather tragedies. Heavy rains caused floods and landslides claiming over 50 lives.
Authorities temporarily closed the Everest region to tourists. The shutdown includes Karma Valley, Rongshar Valley and Cho Oyu mountain on the China-Nepal border.
Other western Chinese mountain areas also experienced severe weather. One hiker died from hypothermia and altitude sickness in Qinghai province. Rescue teams evacuated over 100 people from that region.
The scale of this rescue operation highlights growing safety concerns in high-altitude tourism. Climate patterns appear increasingly unpredictable during traditional trekking seasons.