1,000 Stranded in Snowstorm Near Mount Everest

Severe snowfall and rain have caused serious problems near Mount Everest in the Himalayas, trapping around 1,000 people in Tibet. The snowstorm began Friday evening and continued through Saturday, blocking roads with deep snow.

According to media reports, rescue teams and local villagers are working hard to clear the roads and help the stranded people. So far, over 350 trekkers have reached the town of Kodang, and more than 200 others have been contacted. Officials hope the remaining people will also reach safety soon.

Many of the stranded were tourists and trekkers visiting the area during China’s National Day holidays. They were in the remote Karma Valley on Everest’s eastern side, which lies at an altitude of 4,200 to 4,900 meters (13,800 to 16,000 feet). Temperatures have dropped sharply, increasing the risk of hypothermia.

One trekker, Chen Geshuang, said the weather changed suddenly and became extreme. “It was wet and cold, with thunder and lightning. We were very scared,” he said. His group of 18 made it safely to Qadang, where villagers gave them hot food and tea.

Another trekker, Eric Wen, shared that his team had to clear snow from their tents every 10 minutes to prevent them from collapsing. “We could hardly sleep. It was snowing very hard,” he said. Some of his team members suffered from the cold but survived.

In neighboring Nepal, heavy rain caused landslides and flash floods. At least 47 people have died since Friday, and several roads and bridges were destroyed—especially in the Alam district near the Indian border. Nine people are still missing after being swept away by floodwaters, and three others were killed by lightning.

Authorities in Tibet have closed the Mount Everest scenic area for safety. It is still unclear whether climbers on the northern side of Everest have been affected.