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Trekkers have recounted facing "extreme" situations after an unexpected snowstorm during one of China's busiest festive periods trapped numerous of individuals on Mount Everest, sparking a massive rescue effort.

Evacuation Efforts Underway

Officials in China stated that approximately 350 individuals had made their way down but at least 200 were still trapped 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 traveled to the region for "Golden Week," an week-long holiday period in China. However, local officials, who control the Tibetan Autonomous Region, said intense snow had affected the area on Friday and Saturday night, trapping hundreds of people at tent sites at an altitude of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"It was the most extreme weather I've ever faced in all my hiking experiences, without question," Dong Shuchang said on social media, detailing a "intense snowstorm on the eastern slope" of Everest.

"I looked up in the late hours and noticed that the snow had almost covered the peak," said a hiker on Xiaohongshu. "It was the first time I truly felt the terror of being buried alive."

Personal Accounts

A hiker from China mentioned their party had been "too frightened to sleep" on that night as accumulation rapidly built up around their shelters, compelling them to clear it every 90 minutes. They chose to go down on Sunday as the conditions deteriorated.

"During the descent, we encountered our guide’s parent who had come looking for him. That's when we learned the storm was intense in the lowlands too; villagers, unable to reach their family on the mountain, were extremely worried."

The north and east side of Everest is easier to reach than sites on the Nepal side of the border and attracts large crowds of visitors for easier hiking, without summiting the peak.

Visual Evidence

Images and footage posted online showed tents buried in snow and rows of trekkers walking through deep snowbanks to get down the mountain.

"The snow was extremely thick, and the trail extremely slippery. Hikers often slipped – some fell, some were jostled by pack animals," said one, who clarified that all safely descended and were transported by bus.

Current Status

By Sunday afternoon, approximately 350 people had arrived in Qudang, a small town about 30 miles away from the Tibet-side starting point of Everest, "in good health," state media announced.

At least 200 more remained trapped but had been reached, the updates indicated. Local news stated that scores of rescuers had ascended the mountain to assist those trapped and remove accumulation from obstructing the exit route.

There was minimal updates or updated information about the operation on Monday. Uncertainty remained if the weather had affected individuals on the northern side of Everest, also in Tibet. The region is tightly controlled by the Chinese government, and journalistic access is limited. The conditions also seemed to have disrupted phone services, with attempts to contact shops not connecting. Several trekkers reported power was out in Qudang when they reached the town.

Seasonal Context

Autumn is a peak season for the region, with usually calm and pleasant conditions, but Chen Geshuang, one of 18 participants of a hiking party that made it back to Qudang, said that the climate this year was "unusual."

"The guide said he had never encountered such weather in October. And it occurred very abruptly."

The local tourism authority said admissions and entry to the Everest Scenic Area were suspended from the weekend.

Regional Impact

Neighbouring countries were affected as well by extreme weather. Heavy rains caused landslides and sudden flooding that have blocked roads, washed away bridges, and claimed the lives of at least 47 people since the start of the weekend in the neighboring country.