Nearly 1,000 People Trapped by Severe Blizzard on Tibetan Side of Mount Everest: Rescue Operations Underway

The severe snowstorm that began Friday evening and persisted through Saturday has left nearly 1,000 individuals stranded at campsites on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest, according to Chinese state media.

Rescue operations commenced Sunday to clear pathways to the affected areas situated above 4,900 meters (16,000 feet) in altitude. Hundreds of local villagers and emergency teams have been mobilized to remove snow blockages hampering access to the region, as reported by Jimu News.

Some tourists have already been successfully evacuated from the mountain, though many remain trapped by the blizzard conditions.

The Tingri County Tourism Company announced via their official WeChat account that ticket sales and entry to the Everest Scenic Area were suspended starting late Saturday due to the deteriorating weather conditions.

Meanwhile, across the border in Nepal, the situation is equally dire, with 47 fatalities reported from heavy rainfall and flash floods since Friday.