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Hikers have described facing "harsh" conditions after an unexpected snowstorm during one of China's most crowded holiday weekends trapped numerous of individuals on Mount Everest, triggering a large-scale rescue effort.

Rescue Operations Underway

Chinese authorities reported that around 350 individuals had made their way down but at least 200 were still trapped at the Everest Scenic Area, located to the east of the mountain, on the Tibet side of the border.

Large groups of visitors had journeyed to the region for "Golden Week," an week-long holiday period in China. However, Chinese authorities, who administer the Tibetan Autonomous Region, confirmed intense snow had affected the area on Friday and Saturday night, trapping hundreds of individuals at tent sites at an altitude of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"This was the harshest weather I've ever faced in all my hiking experiences, without question," a Chinese trekker said on Weibo, detailing a "violent convective snowstorm on the east face" of Everest.

"Glancing upward in the late hours and noticed that the snow had almost buried the peak," shared another trekker on a social platform. "That was the initial instance I truly felt the terror of being buried alive."

Eyewitness Reports

A hiker from China said their party had been "too frightened to sleep" on Saturday as accumulation rapidly built up around their shelters, forcing them to clear it hourly. They chose to descend on the next day as the conditions deteriorated.

"On the way, we encountered our guide's father who had searched for him. It was then we discovered the snow was heavy in the valley as well; locals, unable to reach their family on the mountain, were deeply concerned."

The north and east side of Everest is easier to reach than locations on the Nepal side of the border and attracts large crowds of tourists for easier trekking, without summiting the peak.

Online Documentation

Images and footage shared on the internet depicted shelters covered by snow and rows of trekkers moving through waist-high snowbanks to descend the mountain.

"The snow was very deep, and the path very slick. Trekkers often slipped – a few tumbled, others were bumped by pack animals," noted a trekker, who clarified that everyone made it down and were picked up by bus.

Current Status

By Sunday afternoon, approximately 350 people had arrived in Qudang, a village roughly 50 kilometers away from the Tibetan base camp of Everest, "safe and sound," state media reported.

At least 200 more remained trapped but had been contacted, the updates indicated. Media outlets reported that hundreds of rescuers had ascended the mountain to help people and remove accumulation from blocking the way out.

There was minimal updates or updated information about the operation on the following day. It was also not clear if the weather had affected individuals on the northern side of Everest, within the same region. The area is strictly regulated by the Chinese government, and media entry is restricted. The weather also seemed to have affected local communications, with calls to local businesses failing. Several trekkers said electricity was cut in Qudang when they reached the town.

Weather Patterns

October is a busy period for the region, with usually calm and pleasant conditions, but one trekker, among 18 participants of a hiking party that returned to Qudang, said that the climate this year was "unusual."

"Our leader told us he had never encountered such weather in the fall. And it occurred all too suddenly."

The local tourism authority said ticket sales and access to the Everest Scenic Area were suspended from Saturday.

Broader Effects

Neighbouring countries were also hit by extreme weather. Torrential downpours triggered mudslides and flash floods that have closed routes, destroyed crossings, and killed at least 47 people since Friday in Nepal.