Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

A major rescue operation has commenced after a blizzard trapped roughly 1,000 hikers on the eastern slopes of Mount Everest.

Getting into it: According to authorities, the incident occurred after a significant snowstorm hit on Friday evening near the Karma Valley, catching many hikers off guard. A mixture of snow, freezing rain, sudden temperature drops, and powerful winds caused tents to collapse and trails to vanish. According to officials, many of the hikers suffered from hypothermia as conditions deteriorated overnight.

So far, more than 350 people have been guided to safety in the nearby township of Qudang, while contact has been established with over 200 others still stranded at higher elevations. Rescue operations are being carried out in stages due to the extreme weather, with local authorities coordinating efforts involving hundreds of villagers, the Blue Sky Rescue Team, and emergency personnel.

Bulldozers and snow-clearing machinery have been deployed to reopen blocked paths, while guides are leading groups down from the mountain whenever visibility and terrain allow. The challenging landscape and persistent snow are slowing progress, but no fatalities have been confirmed so far.