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Rescue teams have safely led all of the last trekkers near the eastern slopes of Everest in Tibet to safety, along with hundreds of native guides and animal tenders, officials announced. This concludes one of the most extensive rescue and recovery missions ever conducted in the zone.

Massive Evacuation Operation Completed

Hundreds of explorers were became trapped in heavy snow over the past few days in the isolated Karma valley, after an unexpectedly intense snowstorm unleashed significant snowfall across the area.

Snow kept coming down 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 safety.

Initial updates had estimated that the last group of roughly 200 travelers were projected to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 hikers, along with more than 300 guides, livestock herders, and other crew members were rescued, according to authoritative announcements released on Tuesday evening.

Survivors Describe Harsh Conditions

One from China hiker shared how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, compelling them to clear it every 90 minutes. They opted to descend on Sunday as the situation deteriorated.

“On the way, we came across our guide’s father, who had come looking for him. That’s when we realized the snow was heavy in the valley, too; local residents, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Climbing Plans Thwarted

The blizzard also thwarted the objectives of mountaineers led by a American mountaineering firm 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 Region

Karma valley was first discovered by western travelers a long time ago. In recent years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent travel draw, the area has drawn an rising number of tourists. More than 540,000 sightseers visited the Everest region last year, establishing a all-time high.

Region Still Closed

The Everest region is still currently closed to the general public, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Effect

The significant snowfall over the weekend also influenced numerous of trekkers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one person succumbed, due to a combination of hypothermia and altitude sickness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a high season for the area, with typically sunny and mild weather, but one trekker of an 18-person trekking group that got back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “atypical.”