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Emergency crews have safely led all of the last hikers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to a secure location, including hundreds of regional escorts and yak herders, officials stated. This concludes one of the largest rescue and recovery operations ever undertaken in the zone.

Massive Evacuation Operation Concluded

Hundreds of hikers were found themselves stuck in heavy snow over the past few days in the secluded Karma valley, after an exceptionally fierce winter blast deposited significant snowfall across the territory.

Snow persisted all day Saturday in the valley, which rests at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had escorted approximately 350 hikers to safety.

Earlier reports had suggested that the last group of roughly 200 individuals were anticipated to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 hikers, coupled with more than 300 guides, livestock herders, and other support staff were rescued, according to official statements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Survivors Describe Harsh Conditions

One from China trekker described how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, obliging them to remove it every 90 minutes. They chose to go down on Sunday as the weather deteriorated.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had set out for him. That’s when we found out the snow was intense in the valley, too; local residents, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Expedition Schedules Disrupted

The severe weather also disrupted the plans of mountaineers led by a United States expedition company to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the frontier between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Tourism Increase in the Region

Karma valley was first explored by western adventurers a century ago. In modern times, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant tourism attraction, the area has drawn an rising number of visitors. More than 540,000 sightseers explored the Everest region last year, establishing a unprecedented number.

Region Remains Off-Limits

The Everest region is still for the time being off-limits to the public, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Effect

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also influenced hundreds of trekkers in other parts of the western regions of China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one person died, due to a mix of low body temperature and high-altitude illness.

Atypical Weather

October is typically a busy season for the area, with normally clear and mild weather, but one trekker of an 18-person trekking group that got back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “atypical.”