Snowstorm Traps Hundreds on Everest
Headlines from ABC News LiveCatch up on the developing stories making headlines.
Rescue operations are underway on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest after a sudden snowstorm left nearly 1,000 climbers and hikers stranded at high-altitude campsites. Chinese state media report that teams of rescuers, alongside local villagers, are working to clear heavy snow blocking access to the remote region, which sits at over 16,000 feet above sea level, according to the BBC.
So far, approximately 350 people have been brought to safety in the township of Qudang, but hundreds more remain in need of assistance, the AP reports. The blizzard began Friday night and rapidly intensified, catching many off guard. Survivor Chen Geshuang told Reuters that conditions were so frigid and wet that hypothermia became a serious risk, adding that local guides had never experienced such extreme October weather. Many of those affected were visiting the area during China’s weeklong national holiday.
Rescue teams say collapsed tents and cases of hypothermia have complicated operations. Blue Sky Rescue, a local emergency team, reported receiving urgent calls as the storm worsened. In response, authorities suspended ticket sales and closed entry to Everest’s scenic area.
The extreme weather on Everest is part of a wider pattern affecting the region. Neighboring Nepal has experienced torrential rains, triggering deadly landslides and floods, while Typhoon Matmo has forced the evacuation of 150,000 people across China.
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