Nearly 900 Trekkers Rescued After Deadly Everest Blizzard in Tibet

Hundreds of hikers, guides, and yak herders trapped by a massive snowstorm near Mount Everest’s eastern face in Tibet are finally safe after one of the largest mountain rescue missions China has ever carried out.

Authorities said on Tuesday that the last 200 stranded trekkers were guided out of the remote Karma Valley, following a weekend blizzard that buried trails and dropped temperatures well below freezing. About 580 hikers and 300 local guides and herders have now been evacuated to nearby towns in Dingri County, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Rescue teams battled brutal conditions, hauling oxygen tanks, food, and blankets,  to reach the nearly 900 people stuck at an altitude of over 4,200 metres (13,800 feet). The storm hit as hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts headed into China’s rugged interior for the October holiday week, turning what should have been a dream trek into a survival ordeal.

The storm is another stark reminder of how climate change is reshaping the Himalayas, with weather patterns becoming increasingly violent and unpredictable. In neighbouring Nepal, Sherpa communities are also struggling to adapt as melting glaciers, flash floods, and sudden snowstorms make the world’s highest peaks even more dangerous.