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Search parties have successfully guided all of the last adventurers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in Tibet to security, along with hundreds of native guides and yak herders, local government announced. This marks the end one of the biggest search-and-rescue missions ever undertaken in the region.

Massive Evacuation Operation Concluded

Numerous of trekkers were left stranded in deep snow over the weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an unexpectedly intense winter blast deposited heavy snowfall across the territory.

Snow persisted all day Saturday in the valley, which rests at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had escorted approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Initial updates had suggested that the remaining roughly 200 travelers were expected to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 hikers, along with more than 300 escorts, animal handlers, and other assistants were rescued, according to official statements released on Tuesday night.

Survivors Recount Severe Situations

One from China trekker recalled how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, obliging them to clear it every 90 minutes. They opted to go down on Sunday as the conditions deteriorated.

“On the way, we encountered our guide’s father, who had set out for him. That’s when we found out the snow was deep in the valley, too; villagers, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Climbing Plans Disrupted

The severe weather also thwarted the objectives of climbers guided by a United States mountaineering company to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first explored by foreign travelers a long time ago. In recent years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant tourism attraction, the area has drawn an increasing number of visitors. More than 540,000 sightseers traveled to the Everest region last year, marking a new record.

Region Remains Off-Limits

The Everest region is still currently closed to the visitors, including the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Impact

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

Unusual Conditions

October is typically a peak season for the area, with usually clear and pleasant weather, but one trekker of an 18-person expedition team that made it back to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “atypical.”