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Rescue teams have successfully guided all of the last hikers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to a secure location, along with numerous of regional escorts and yak herders, authorities stated. This wraps up one of the largest search-and-rescue missions ever undertaken in the zone.

Massive Rescue Effort Completed

Numerous of hikers were found themselves stuck in heavy snow over the past few days in the secluded Karma valley, after an unexpectedly fierce snowstorm deposited substantial snowfall across the region.

Snow continued to fall all day Saturday in the valley, which rests at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had led approximately 350 hikers to security.

Initial updates had estimated that the last group of roughly 200 individuals were expected to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, in addition to more than 300 local guides, yak herders, and other crew members were evacuated, according to authoritative announcements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Those Rescued Recount Severe Situations

One Chinese traveler shared how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, forcing them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They opted to descend on Sunday as the weather deteriorated.

“On the way, we encountered our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we found out the snow was intense in the valley, too; villagers, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Climbing Plans Thwarted

The blizzard also hindered the goals of mountaineers guided by a American climbing outfit to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the frontier between the People's Republic of China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first discovered by foreign travelers a long time ago. In recent years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a major visitor destination, the area has attracted an rising number of travelers. More than 540,000 sightseers explored the Everest region last year, setting a all-time high.

Region Remains Off-Limits

The Everest region is still temporarily off-limits to the general public, including the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Effect

The intense snowfall over the weekend also influenced numerous of trekkers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one person lost their life, due to a blend of low body temperature and high-altitude illness.

Unusual Conditions

October is typically a busy season for the area, with usually fine and moderate weather, but one participant of an 18-person trekking group that got back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “unusual.”