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Trekkers have described facing "extreme" situations after an unexpected snowstorm during one of China's most crowded festive periods trapped hundreds of people on Mount Everest, triggering a large-scale rescue operation.

Evacuation Efforts Underway

Officials in China stated that approximately 350 individuals had made their way down but at least 200 remained stranded at the Everest Scenic Area, located to the eastern side of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border.

Large groups of visitors had journeyed to the area for "Golden Week," an eight-day holiday period in China. However, Chinese authorities, who administer the Tibetan Autonomous Region, said intense snow had hit the area on the weekend, trapping hundreds of people at tent sites at an altitude of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"It was the most extreme conditions I've ever faced in all my hiking experiences, undoubtedly," a Chinese trekker stated on social media, describing a "violent convective snowstorm on the eastern slope" of Everest.

"I looked up in the late hours and saw that the accumulation had almost covered the top," said another trekker on a social platform. "It was the initial instance I genuinely experienced the fear of being engulfed by snow."

Eyewitness Reports

A hiker from China said their party had been "too scared to sleep" on that night as snow quickly piled up around their shelters, forcing them to clear it hourly. They decided to go down on Sunday as the weather deteriorated.

"On the way, we met our guide's father who had searched for him. It was then we learned the storm was intense in the valley too; villagers, unable to reach their family on the mountain, were deeply concerned."

The north and east side of Everest is easier to reach than sites on the Nepal side of the border and draws high numbers of visitors for less technical trekking, without summiting the peak.

Visual Evidence

Images and footage shared on the internet showed tents covered by snow and rows of hikers walking through waist-high drifts to get down the mountain.

"The snow was very deep, and the trail very slick. Trekkers stumbled frequently – a few tumbled, others were bumped by pack animals," said one, who added that everyone made it down and were picked up by bus.

Latest Developments

By the weekend, approximately 350 individuals had arrived in Qudang, a village about 30 miles away from the Tibet-side starting point of Everest, "in good health," official sources reported.

At least 200 more were still stranded but had been contacted, the reports said. Media outlets reported that scores of emergency workers had gone up the mountain to help people and remove accumulation from blocking the way out.

Officials provided little official reporting or updated information about the operation on Monday. It was also not clear if the storm had impacted individuals on the north face of Everest, also in Tibet. The area is tightly controlled by the authorities, and media entry is restricted. The weather also seemed to have affected phone services, with attempts to contact shops failing. A number of hikers reported power was out in Qudang when they arrived.

Seasonal Context

October is a peak season for the region, with usually calm and pleasant weather, but Chen Geshuang, one of 18 participants of a trekking group that made it back to Qudang, commented that the climate this year was "not normal."

"Our leader said he had never encountered conditions like this in the fall. And it occurred very abruptly."

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

Broader Effects

Adjacent nations were affected as well by extreme weather. Heavy rains triggered 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.