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A sudden and violent unseasonal snowstorm unexpectedly struck the eastern slopes of Mount Everest (Kangshung Face), in the Tibet Autonomous Region, during the peak of China's eight-day Golden Week holiday. This severe blizzard isolated and endangered nearly 1,000 people, including trekkers and guides, at an average altitude of 4,200 meters above sea level, with some even stranded at altitudes above 4,900 meters.
Faced with this life-or-death situation, local authorities urgently launched a large-scale rescue operation, mobilizing hundreds of personnel and villagers to clear a path and bring the victims down the mountain safely.
Earlier, thousands of tourists had flocked to the area to enjoy Golden Week, China's eight-day holiday. However, unusually heavy snowfall left hundreds stranded at campsites.
Snowstorms began to fall in the Katma Valley – the path leading up the eastern slopes of Everest – on Friday evening, October 3rd, and continued throughout Saturday, October 4th. This weather phenomenon was described as unusual and extremely harsh for October, which is typically the ideal peak tourist season when the skies are usually clear after the rainy season.
The lucky tourists who survived described the near-death moments. On social media, many shared their fear of being "buried alive" as the snow fell so heavily it almost touched the roofs of their tents. Tourist Chen Geshuang, a member of the 18-person group who returned safely, said: "The weather this year is unusual. The tour guide said he had never seen anything like this in October. Everything happened so fast."
The group of tourists had to wade through waist-deep snow to descend the mountain.
Many groups of hikers were forced to stay up all night, shoveling snow every 90 minutes for fear of being buried under snow. Hiker Dong Shuchang described it as "the harshest weather I've ever faced in my entire hiking career," with extremely strong convective snowstorms and fierce winds. In conditions of plummeting temperatures and limited visibility, camping became a battle for survival against the harshness of nature.
Upon receiving information about the emergency, Chinese authorities in Shigatse city (Tibet) quickly launched a rescue operation. Hundreds of local government rescue workers, working closely with experienced mountaineers, were urgently mobilized. They carried food and warm blankets, braving the thick snow to reach high points to provide assistance and clear blocked paths.
The rescue operation was extremely difficult. A woman in Shenzhen whose husband was trapped in the mountains said, "Even for the rescue team, moving around wasn't easy. They had to clear the snow to open a path." Images and videos on social media showed tents buried deep and tourists wading through waist-deep snow to get out of the mountainous area. Tourists recounted, "The snow was very deep, the paths were extremely slippery. People were stumbling, some slipped and fell, some were hit by yaks."
At least 200 people remain trapped but have been contacted. Hundreds of rescuers have gone up the mountain to assist and clear snow-blocked paths.
However, thanks to the tireless efforts of the rescue team, as of October 6th, approximately 350 people had safely descended the mountain and gathered at a rest stop at the foot of the mountain in the small town of Qudang. More than 200 others are currently being guided by local rescue forces in groups to safety. Shigatse officials confirmed that those trapped have sufficient food and supplies to survive.
CCTV did not specify whether all local guides and support staff had been counted, nor did it provide an assessment of the situation in the northern Everest region.
To ensure absolute safety, the Shigatse city authorities have ordered a temporary suspension of ticket sales and the closure of the entire Everest scenic area. This decision is necessary due to the unusual weather patterns. Chinese meteorological experts say that rainfall and snowfall in the Himalayas over the past week have far exceeded the multi-year average, indicating that climate change is significantly impacting the region.
The fact that hundreds of people flocked to Everest during the holiday season shows the appeal of the north and east flanks of Everest, which are more accessible than the Nepalese side and do not require the most advanced climbing skills. However, this unexpected snowstorm is a wake-up call about the unpredictability of nature on the "roof of the world".
Those fortunate enough to escape the danger zone, upon reaching the town of Khuc Duong (about 48 km from the Everest base camp), were warmly welcomed by the locals with sweet tea and hot meals. Many tourists wept with emotion after hours of facing the risk of hypothermia and the biting cold, ending a terrifying experience but also witnessing the courage and solidarity of the local people. Currently, authorities are continuing rescue efforts and closely monitoring the situation in the northern Everest region – an area that also frequently receives large numbers of tourists – to have timely response plans.
