Sudden snow storm on Everest: hundreds of blocked hikers, running against time to save them

A sudden storm of snow hit the Karma valley, at the foot of the eastern wall of Everest, surprising hundreds of hikers during the national holidays in China. The wave of bad weather caused chaos to the Tibetan region of Shigatse, where local authorities had to suspend access to the entire Everest Scenic Area for security reasons.

The rescue teams worked tirelessly to reach the groups that were trapped in the mountains. According to the CCTV state television, about 350 people have already been conducted in the small village of Qudang, while over 200 hikers are still in the return phase, accompanied by the emergency teams.

Extreme cold and nights of fear

The intense snow, accompanied by thunder and flashes, has buried curtains and made visibility impossible. Many groups said they had spent the night awake, trying to prevent the shelters from collapsed under the weight of the snow. Some hikers reported cases of hypothermia, despite the appropriate equipment and support of local guides.

One of the most touching testimonies is that of Chen Geshuang, who after hours of walking between the storm managed to reach the village, where she was welcomed with hot tea and covered by residents. “We had never seen such a cold and unstable October,” he said, underlining how climate change is making the Himalayan climate more and more unpredictable.

Rescue and conditions in the rest of the Himalaya

In addition to the operations in Tibet, the nearby Nepal was also hit by bad weather, with landslides and floods that caused dozens of victims and interruptions in the communication routes. Meanwhile in Tibet, hundreds of volunteers and rescuers are still freeing the roads blocked by the snow to allow complete evacuation.

The Karma valley, known for its unspoiled vegetation and spectacular panoramas on the Kangshung glacier, has turned into an emergency scenario. The authorities reiterated the importance of monitoring the weather conditions before taking excursions to 4,000 meters, where even a small storm can become a nightmare. Despite fear, most hikers are now safe, thanks to the speed of rescue and the collaboration of local communities.

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