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Trekkers have recounted facing "harsh" conditions after an unexpected snowstorm during one of China's most crowded holiday weekends stranded hundreds of people on Mount Everest, sparking a massive rescue operation.

Rescue Operations Underway

Officials in China reported that around 350 people had descended safely but at least 200 remained stranded at the Everest Scenic Area, situated to the eastern side of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border.

Crowds of tourists had traveled to the region for "Golden Week," an eight-day holiday period in China. However, Chinese authorities, who control the Tibetan Autonomous Region, said intense snow had hit the area on the weekend, stranding numerous of individuals at campsites at an elevation of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"This was the most extreme weather I've experienced in all my trekking experiences, without question," a Chinese trekker stated on social media, describing a "violent convective snowstorm on the east face" of Everest.

"Glancing upward in the late hours and noticed that the accumulation had nearly buried the peak," said another trekker on a social platform. "It was the first time I truly felt the terror of being buried alive."

Personal Accounts

A hiker from China said their group had been "too scared to sleep" on Saturday as snow rapidly built up around their shelters, forcing them to clear it hourly. They decided to go down on Sunday as the weather worsened.

"During the descent, we met our guide's father who had searched for him. It was then we learned the storm was intense in the valley too; locals, unable to reach their family on the mountain, were deeply concerned."

The north and east side of Everest is more accessible than sites on the neighboring side of the border and draws high numbers of visitors for easier hiking, without summiting the peak.

Online Documentation

Photos and video shared on the internet showed shelters covered by snow and lines of hikers walking through waist-high drifts to get down the mountain.

"The snow was extremely thick, and the trail very slick. Trekkers stumbled frequently – some fell, some were jostled by pack animals," said one, who clarified that everyone made it down and were picked up by bus.

Current Status

By the weekend, approximately 350 individuals had reached Qudang, a village about 30 miles away from the Tibetan starting point of Everest, "in good health," state media announced.

At least 200 more remained trapped but had been contacted, the reports said. Media outlets stated that scores of emergency workers had ascended the mountain to help people and remove accumulation from blocking the exit route.

There was minimal updates or updated information about the operation on the following day. It was also not clear if the weather had affected anyone on the northern side of Everest, also in Tibet. The area is strictly regulated by the authorities, and media entry is limited. The weather also seemed to have disrupted phone services, with calls to local businesses not connecting. Several trekkers reported electricity was cut in Qudang when they reached the town.

Seasonal Context

October is a peak season for the region, with usually calm and pleasant weather, but Chen Geshuang, one of 18 members of a trekking group that returned to Qudang, said that the climate this year was "unusual."

"Our leader said he had never encountered conditions like this in the fall. And it happened all too suddenly."

The regional travel department announced admissions and entry to the Everest Scenic Area were suspended from Saturday.

Regional Impact

Neighbouring countries were also hit by extreme weather. Heavy rains triggered landslides and sudden flooding that have blocked roads, destroyed crossings, and claimed the lives of at least 47 people since Friday in the neighboring country.