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Search parties have successfully guided all of the last adventurers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to safety, along with numerous of regional escorts and animal tenders, local government stated. This concludes one of the largest search-and-rescue operations ever seen in the region.

Massive Evacuation Effort Concluded

Numerous of hikers were became trapped in heavy snow over the past few days in the isolated Karma valley, after an unusually powerful winter blast deposited heavy snowfall across the territory.

Snow continued to fall throughout Saturday in the valley, which rests at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had escorted approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Earlier reports had indicated that the remaining roughly 200 hikers were expected to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, in addition to more than 300 guides, livestock herders, and other crew members were rescued, according to authoritative reports released on Tuesday night.

Those Rescued Recount Harsh Situations

One from China traveler recalled how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, obliging them to clear it every 90 minutes. They decided to descend on Sunday as the weather became more severe.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we learned the snow was heavy in the valley, too; villagers, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Expedition Plans Thwarted

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

Tourism Increase in the Region

Karma valley was first discovered by foreign travelers a century ago. In modern times, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a major tourism draw, the area has drawn an rising number of travelers. More than 540,000 visitors explored the Everest region last year, marking a unprecedented number.

Area Remains Closed

The Everest region is still currently off-limits to the visitors, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Effect

The significant snowfall over the weekend also impacted numerous of hikers in other parts of the western regions of China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one individual lost their life, due to a mix of exposure and high-altitude illness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a high season for the area, with typically fine and pleasant weather, but one member of an 18-person expedition team that got back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “unusual.”