Snowstorm Blocks Over 1000 Tourists Near Everest

A strong snowstorm has blocked over a thousand tourists in the area of the eastern slope of Mount Everest in Tibet, leaving thousands of people in a difficult situation. The storm, which hit the area on Friday evening, raged during Golden Week, a national holiday in China, when thousands of people travel around the country.

Currently, rescue operations are underway, according to Chinese media. Teams are working hard in an attempt to reach the blocked tourists in extremely difficult conditions. So far, 350 people have been evacuated to a nearby town, while contact has been made with about 200 others remaining in the mountains. The area, located at over 4900 meters above sea level, poses a serious challenge for rescuers struggling with the snow to provide a passage to the isolated groups.

Among those blocked is 29-year-old Geshuang Chen, who is undertaking a mountaineering trek with a group of over 10 people to the base camp of Mount Cho Oyu, known for its panoramic view of the Himalayas. Despite forecasts of light snowfall, the storm caught them unprepared. The dense white veil hinders movement and creates a risk to everyone's safety.

"When we woke up, the snow was already about a meter. We are all experienced tourists, but this was extremely difficult," Chen told the BBC, describing the harsh conditions they found themselves in.

Other groups are facing harsh conditions as well. Tourist Eric Wen shares with Reuters that three of his group have contracted hypothermia, despite being well-equipped. He further emphasizes the additional suffering, as they had to constantly clear the snow every 10 minutes to try and maintain survival conditions.

Parallel to the storm in Tibet, neighboring Nepal has been affected by heavy rains, triggering landslides. As a result of the disaster, at least 47 people have died, showing the horrifying power of natural disasters. In eastern China, Typhoon Matmo also caused the evacuation of over 150,000 people, highlighting the large-scale consequences of extreme weather conditions.

Everest, the highest peak in the world, continues to attract thousands of tourists and climbers every year, in search of adventure. However, the ascent and the paths to the summit remain dangerous, especially during a sudden deterioration of the weather. The weather in the mountains can be treacherous, and now, given the blocked tourists, hopes are directed towards quick and successful rescue operations.