Hundreds of trekkers who were stranded on the eastern slope of Mount Everest after heavy snowfall have been evacuated, according to the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Advertisement
On Tuesday night, CCTV said 580 trekkers and more than 300 local guides and yak porters had “safely reached” a relocation point in Qudang in Tibet autonomous region and were being organised to return home.
CCTV also said a further dozen hikers, helped by rescue personnel sent from Tingri county in the region, had reached a rendezvous point on the descent.
‘It was extremely difficult’: rescued trekker recounts dangerous journey on Everest
‘It was extremely difficult’: rescued trekker recounts dangerous journey on Everest
On Saturday, a rare blizzard struck the trekkers’ camps on Mount Everest’s eastern slope in Tingri county within Shigatse city in western China, leaving nearly 1,000 people stranded.
The county closed several local tourist attractions on Sunday because of the mounting snow, icy conditions and low visibility.
On Sunday, Shigatse city officials announced on the social media platform Weibo that Tingri county authorities had organised personnel to contact and help stranded trekkers at the base camp to ensure their safety.
Advertisement
October, which is characterised by relatively mild temperatures and typically clear skies, traditionally marks the peak climbing season for Mount Everest and its surrounding regions. Mainland media reports said this blizzard took even experienced mountaineers by surprise.