Mount Everest Rescue Underway After Snowstorm Strands Nearly 1,000 Trekkers

Addis Ababa, October 6, 2025 (FMC) — Rescue operations are ongoing on Mount Everest after a sudden snowstorm trapped nearly 1,000 trekkers on the mountain’s eastern side, Chinese state media reported.

Hundreds of visitors caught in the blizzard near Everest’s eastern face in Tibet were guided to safety on Sunday, as unusually heavy precipitation, including rain, battered the Himalayas. By Sunday, 350 people had reached the small township of Qudang, while rescuers had established contact with more than 200 others, China Central Television (CCTV) said.

The stranded trekkers had been visiting the remote Karma Valley, which leads to Everest’s eastern Kangshung face, taking advantage of China’s eight-day National Day holiday. Snowfall began Friday evening at an average elevation of 4,200 metres (13,779 feet) and continued throughout Saturday, leaving many in hazardous conditions.

Chen Geshuang, part of an 18-member trekking team that reached Qudang, described the ordeal, saying the mountains were “so wet and cold, and hypothermia was a real risk.” Chen added that the guide had never encountered such extreme weather in October, and it struck “all too suddenly.”

Authorities are coordinating the staged evacuation of remaining trekkers, assisted by hundreds of local villagers and rescue teams working to clear snow-blocked paths, CCTV reported. Earlier estimates by state-backed Jimu News suggested nearly 1,000 people had been trapped, though it remains unclear whether local guides and support staff were accounted for or if trekkers near Everest’s north face were affected.

Chen’s team descended safely on Sunday and was welcomed by villagers after enduring a night of heavy snow, thunder, and lightning. “Back in the village we had a meal and were finally warm,” Chen said.

October is typically a peak season for Everest, particularly the north face, which is easily accessible by paved roads. Ticket sales and entry to the entire Everest scenic area were suspended from Saturday, according to the local Tingri County Tourism Company’s official WeChat account.

Meanwhile, in southern Tibet and across the border in Nepal, heavy rains have triggered landslides and flash floods. Since Friday, at least 47 people have died, roads have been blocked, bridges washed away, and several remain missing. The eastern Ilam district in Nepal alone reported 35 deaths from landslides, with nine people missing due to floods and three others killed by lightning elsewhere.