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Trekkers have recounted encountering "extreme" conditions after an unexpected blizzard during one of China's most crowded holiday weekends trapped hundreds of individuals on Mount Everest, sparking a large-scale rescue effort.

Evacuation Efforts In Progress

Officials in China reported that around 350 individuals had descended safely but at least 200 were still trapped at the Everest Scenic Area, situated to the east of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border.

Large groups of tourists had traveled to the area for "Golden Week," an eight-day festive break in China. However, local officials, who control the Tibetan Autonomous Region, said heavy snowfall had hit the area on Friday and Saturday night, trapping hundreds of individuals at tent sites at an altitude of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"It was the harshest weather I've experienced in all my trekking experiences, undoubtedly," a Chinese trekker stated on Weibo, describing a "violent convective blizzard on the eastern slope" of Everest.

"I looked up in the late hours and noticed that the snow had nearly covered the peak," shared another trekker on Xiaohongshu. "That was the first time I genuinely experienced the fear of being buried alive."

Eyewitness Reports

A hiker from China mentioned their group had been "too scared to sleep" on that night as snow quickly piled up around their tents, compelling them to remove it hourly. They chose to go down on the next day as the weather deteriorated.

"During the descent, we met our guide’s parent who had searched for him. That's when we learned the storm was heavy in the lowlands as well; villagers, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried."

The north and east side of Everest is more accessible than locations on the Nepal side of the border and draws large crowds of tourists for easier hiking, not requiring ascent of the peak.

Online Documentation

Images and footage shared on the internet showed shelters buried in snow and lines of hikers moving through deep drifts to descend the mountain.

"It was very deep, and the path extremely slippery. Trekkers often slipped – a few tumbled, others were bumped by yaks," said one, who added that everyone made it down and were transported by bus.

Latest Developments

By Sunday afternoon, about 350 people had arrived in Qudang, a village roughly 50 kilometers away from the Tibetan base camp of Everest, "in good health," official sources announced.

At least 200 more were still stranded but had been reached, the updates said. Local news stated that scores of rescuers had gone up the mountain to help people and clear snow from obstructing the exit route.

Officials provided minimal updates or new details about the operation on Monday. Uncertainty remained if the storm had affected individuals on the northern side of Everest, within the same region. The area is strictly regulated by the Chinese government, and journalistic access is restricted. The conditions also appears to have have affected phone services, with attempts to contact shops not connecting. Several trekkers said electricity was cut in Qudang when they reached the town.

Seasonal Context

Autumn is a peak season for the area, with usually clear and mild weather, but one trekker, among 18 participants of a trekking group that returned to Qudang, commented that the weather this year was "unusual."

"The guide told us he had not experienced conditions like this in the fall. And it occurred very abruptly."

The regional travel department said ticket sales and access to the Everest Scenic Area were suspended from the weekend.

Broader Effects

Neighbouring countries were also hit by severe conditions. Torrential downpours triggered landslides and sudden flooding that have closed routes, washed away bridges, and killed at least 47 individuals since the start of the weekend in Nepal.