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Emergency crews have escorted all of the remaining hikers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in the Tibet region to safety, including hundreds of regional escorts and animal tenders, officials reported. This concludes one of the biggest search-and-rescue operations ever undertaken in the region.

Large-Scale Rescue Operation Concluded

Several hundred of hikers were left stranded in heavy snow over the weekend in the remote Karma valley, after an exceptionally powerful winter blast dumped heavy snowfall across the region.

Snow continued to fall throughout Saturday in the valley, which sits at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had guided approximately 350 hikers to security.

Previous accounts had suggested that the remaining roughly 200 hikers were projected to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 hikers, in addition to more than 300 guides, animal handlers, and other support staff were evacuated, according to government statements released on Tuesday night.

Survivors Recount Extreme Situations

One from China trekker described how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, forcing them to remove it every 90 minutes. They opted to go down on Sunday as the situation deteriorated.

“On the way, we came across our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we learned the snow was intense in the valley, too; community members, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Expedition Plans Disrupted

The blizzard also hindered the objectives of mountaineers escorted by a American expedition firm to summit 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 explored by foreign explorers a long time ago. In the past few years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent tourism destination, the area has attracted an rising number of visitors. More than 540,000 sightseers traveled to the Everest region last year, marking a unprecedented number.

Area Still Closed

The Everest region remains currently inaccessible to the public, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Effect

The intense snowfall over the weekend also impacted numerous of trekkers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one individual succumbed, due to a blend of hypothermia and altitude sickness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a high season for the area, with typically sunny and moderate weather, but one participant of an 18-person expedition team that got back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “not normal.”