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Emergency crews have safely led all of the remaining hikers near the eastern slopes of Everest in Tibet to security, including hundreds of regional escorts and yak herders, local government reported. This marks the end one of the most extensive rescue and recovery missions ever seen in the zone.

Large-Scale Evacuation Effort Completed

Hundreds of explorers were became trapped in deep snow over the weekend in the remote Karma valley, after an exceptionally powerful snowstorm dumped significant snowfall across the region.

Snow kept coming down throughout Saturday in the valley, which sits at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had led approximately 350 hikers to safety.

Initial updates had suggested that the last group of roughly 200 individuals were projected to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 hikers, along with more than 300 local guides, yak herders, and other support staff were evacuated, according to government statements released on Tuesday evening.

Survivors Describe Extreme Situations

One from China traveler described how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, forcing them to clear it every 90 minutes. They decided to move to lower ground on Sunday as the situation worsened.

“On the way, we came across our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we learned the snow was heavy in the valley, too; community members, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Expedition Plans Disrupted

The severe weather also hindered the plans of alpinists led by a US-based climbing firm to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first discovered by western travelers a long time ago. In modern times, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a major tourism destination, the area has attracted an increasing number of visitors. More than 540,000 tourists traveled to the Everest region last year, establishing a new record.

Area Remains Off-Limits

The Everest region continues to be temporarily closed to the public, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Effect

The intense snowfall over the weekend also influenced hundreds of travelers in other parts of the western regions of China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual lost their life, due to a combination of low body temperature and altitude sickness.

Unusual Conditions

October is typically a busy season for the area, with normally clear and mild 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.”