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Rescue teams have safely led all of the remaining trekkers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to security, including hundreds of native guides and yak herders, authorities reported. This marks the end one of the largest search-and-rescue efforts ever undertaken in the area.

Massive Evacuation Effort Concluded

Several hundred of trekkers were found themselves stuck in thick snow over the past few days in the isolated Karma valley, after an exceptionally intense winter blast deposited significant snowfall across the region.

Snow continued to fall throughout Saturday in the valley, which rests at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had led approximately 350 hikers to safety.

Earlier reports had suggested that the remaining roughly 200 individuals were anticipated to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, along with more than 300 local guides, yak herders, and other assistants were evacuated, according to official reports released on Tuesday night.

Survivors Recount Harsh Conditions

One Chinese trekker described how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, obliging them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They opted to go down on Sunday as the conditions deteriorated.

“On the way, we encountered our guide’s father, who had set out for him. That’s when we realized the snow was heavy in the valley, too; community members, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were very anxious.”

Climbing Plans Disrupted

The snowstorm also hindered the plans of alpinists led by a US-based climbing company to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the frontier between China and the nation of Nepal.

Visitor Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first discovered by international explorers a long time ago. In the past few years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant travel attraction, the area has attracted an growing number of visitors. More than 540,000 tourists traveled to the Everest region last year, marking a all-time high.

Region Remains Closed

The Everest region remains currently inaccessible to the visitors, including the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Effect

The significant snowfall over the weekend also affected hundreds of hikers in other parts of the western regions of China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one individual lost their life, due to a mix of low body temperature and acute mountain sickness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a high season for the area, with normally clear and moderate weather, but one trekker of an 18-person trekking group that made it back to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “not normal.”