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Rescue teams have safely led all of the last trekkers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to security, along with hundreds of regional escorts and livestock handlers, officials stated. This concludes one of the largest search-and-rescue operations ever conducted in the area.

Massive Evacuation Operation Concluded

Numerous of explorers were left stranded in thick snow over the weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an unusually fierce snowstorm deposited significant snowfall across the territory.

Snow kept coming down throughout Saturday in the valley, which is located at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had guided approximately 350 hikers to security.

Initial updates had indicated that the last group of roughly 200 travelers were anticipated to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, along with more than 300 local guides, animal handlers, and other support staff were rescued, according to authoritative reports released on Tuesday late in the day.

Survivors Describe Severe Situations

One Chinese traveler described how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, obliging them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They opted to move to lower ground on Sunday as the situation became more severe.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had come looking for him. That’s when we realized the snow was intense in the valley, too; villagers, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were very anxious.”

Climbing Schedules Disrupted

The snowstorm also hindered the plans of mountaineers led by a American expedition company to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first explored by international adventurers a century ago. In recent years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant travel attraction, the area has drawn an increasing number of visitors. More than 540,000 visitors explored the Everest region last year, setting a all-time high.

Area Still Closed

The Everest region is still currently inaccessible to the general public, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Impact

The significant snowfall over the weekend also influenced many of travelers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one individual succumbed, due to a blend of hypothermia and high-altitude illness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a busy season for the area, with usually fine and pleasant weather, but one trekker of an 18-person trekking group that returned safely to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “unusual.”