A Mount Everest snowstorm has trapped hundreds of hikers in Tibet during China’s weeklong national holiday, triggering a massive rescue operation across treacherous mountain terrain.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported late Sunday that at least 350 hikers had safely reached a meeting point in Tingri County, while rescuers remained in contact with another 200 people stranded at higher altitudes.
No fresh updates were issued on Monday, but officials said operations were continuing through heavy snow and freezing temperatures.
Rescue teams battle deep snow
The trapped hikers were located at an elevation of 4,900 meters (16,000 feet), according to Jimu News, a Chinese online outlet. The storm buried campsites under as much as one meter (three feet) of snow, crushing tents and blocking descent routes.
A hiker who managed to reach lower ground told Jimu News that those still on the slopes were struggling to stay warm. “The snow came so quickly,” he said. “It covered the paths and buried our tents. We had to leave fast.”
Hundreds of rescue workers, supported by locals with horses and oxen, began clearing paths on Sunday to reach the stranded hikers. A video shared online showed a long line of rescuers slowly advancing up the winding, snow-covered trails.
Local authorities said helicopters remained on standby due to unpredictable mountain weather, which made air rescues difficult.
Snowstorm strikes during national holiday
The Mount Everest snowstorm hit during China’s Golden Week, a weeklong national holiday when millions travel domestically and abroad. The holiday rush often draws hikers to scenic spots like Everest’s Tibetan slopes.
However, officials warned that sudden temperature drops and early winter conditions made this year’s mountain routes unusually dangerous.
The China Meteorological Administration said a cold front sweeping across the western plateau triggered heavy snowfall and strong winds. Local forecasts predict the weather will remain unstable for several more days, complicating rescue efforts.
Other mountain emergencies reported
The snowstorm on Mount Everest, known in China as Mount Qomolangma, was not the only mountain tragedy over the weekend.
In Qinghai province, located northwest of Tibet, one hiker died of hypothermia and altitude sickness while 137 others were rescued, CCTV reported Monday. The search and evacuation operation in Qinghai’s Menyuan County proved difficult due to continuous snowfall, steep terrain, and high altitude — averaging 4,000 meters (13,100 feet).
CCTV described the operation as “high-risk,” with rescuers facing poor visibility and freezing temperatures.
Everest’s geography adds to challenges
Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak at 8,850 meters (29,000 feet), straddles the border between China and Nepal. Each side hosts separate base camps — one for climbers attempting the summit and another for tourists and hikers.
Authorities confirmed that the trapped individuals were at the tourist camp, not the mountaineering base camp. While professional climbers remain largely unaffected, local tourism has suffered major disruptions as roads and trails remain blocked.
The Mount Everest snowstorm follows months of severe weather across the Himalayan region. In neighboring Nepal, heavy rains and landslides have killed more than 40 people in recent weeks.
Earlier this year, in January, a powerful earthquake in the same region killed at least 126 people, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters.
Government response and safety measures
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management said rescue operations on the mountain were coordinated between Tibet’s local government, armed police, and volunteer teams. Temporary shelters were being set up at lower altitudes to provide food, blankets, and medical aid to evacuees.
Officials also urged tourists to check local weather warnings before hiking in high-altitude regions. “Safety must come first. Sudden snow and thin air make these conditions extremely dangerous,” one ministry spokesperson said.
The Tibet Autonomous Region has seen a rapid increase in tourism over the past decade as China expands infrastructure and promotes adventure travel. However, experts warn that climate change and over-tourism may increase the risks of avalanches and snowstorms.
Environmental scientist Liang Shuo from Beijing Normal University said, “We are seeing unusual weather patterns on the plateau. The frequency of snowstorms at high altitudes has risen due to shifting temperature cycles.”
A region of beauty and tension
While rescue operations continue, the storm has drawn renewed attention to Tibet’s remote and politically sensitive landscape. The Chinese government has heavily invested in the region’s development, building roads, hotels, and tourism hubs near Everest.
However, Tibet remains tightly controlled. The area has seen little tolerance for dissent since the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, fled to India after a failed uprising in 1959.
Despite political tensions, Mount Everest — or Qomolangma — continues to attract thousands of tourists every year, many hoping to glimpse the world’s highest peak.
For now, however, those hopes have turned into a struggle for survival amid one of the harshest Mount Everest snowstorms in recent memory.
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