Hundreds of trekkers stranded near the eastern Kangshung face of Mount Everest in Tibet have been guided to safety after a sudden blizzard, Chinese state media reported on Sunday. The Himalayas were hit by unusually heavy snow and rain over the weekend.
Trekkers Reach Safety in Qudang
By Sunday, 350 trekkers had reached the township of Qudang, while contact was made with more than 200 others still in the mountains, according to CCTV. Many had travelled to the remote Karma valley during China’s eight-day National Day holiday.
Chen Geshuang, part of an 18-member group, described the ordeal:
«It was so wet and cold in the mountains, and hypothermia was a real risk. The guide said he had never encountered such weather in October. And it happened all too suddenly.»
Her party descended on Sunday, welcomed by villagers offering sweet tea and warmth after a harrowing night of snow, thunder and lightning.
Nearly 1,000 Trapped at Peak of Storm
Earlier reports said almost 1,000 people had been trapped. Hundreds of villagers and rescue workers were deployed to clear snow and open access routes. The remaining trekkers are expected to reach Qudang in stages with help from local authorities.
Heavy snowfall began on Friday and continued through Saturday, at altitudes averaging 4,200 metres. Eric Wen, another trekker, said his team had to clear snow every 10 minutes to stop tents collapsing.
«More than 10 of us were in the large tent and hardly slept,» he said. Three members of his group developed hypothermia, though all eventually survived.
Karma valley, known for its lush alpine forests, has long attracted trekkers. Access to the Everest Scenic Area was suspended from late Saturday.
Kursiv also reports that China has inaugurated the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, now recognized as the world’s highest bridge, in the southwestern province of Guizhou.
