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Trekkers have recounted facing "harsh" situations after an unexpected snowstorm during one of China's busiest holiday weekends stranded numerous of people on Mount Everest, sparking a large-scale rescue effort.

Evacuation Efforts Underway

Chinese authorities reported that around 350 individuals had made their way down but at least 200 were still trapped at the Everest Scenic Area, situated to the eastern side of the mountain, on the Tibet side of the border.

Large groups of tourists had traveled to the area for "Golden Week," an eight-day festive break in China. However, Chinese authorities, who control the Tibetan Autonomous Region, confirmed heavy snowfall had hit the area on the weekend, stranding hundreds of individuals at campsites at an altitude of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"It was the harshest weather I've experienced in all my trekking experiences, undoubtedly," Dong Shuchang said on social media, describing a "intense snowstorm on the east face" of Everest.

"Glancing upward in the late hours and saw that the accumulation had nearly buried the top," shared another trekker on Xiaohongshu. "It was the initial instance I truly felt the fear of being engulfed by snow."

Personal Accounts

A hiker from China mentioned their group had been "too frightened to sleep" on that night as snow quickly piled up around their shelters, compelling them to remove it hourly. They chose to descend on Sunday as the weather deteriorated.

"During the descent, we met our guide's father who had searched for him. That's when we discovered the storm was heavy in the lowlands too; villagers, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned."

The northern and eastern side of Everest is easier to reach than sites on the Nepal side of the border and draws high numbers of tourists for easier trekking, not requiring ascent of the peak.

Online Documentation

Photos and video shared on the internet depicted shelters buried in snow and lines of hikers moving through deep drifts to descend the mountain.

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

Latest Developments

By the weekend, approximately 350 people had reached Qudang, a small town about 30 miles away from the Tibet-side base camp of Everest, "safe and sound," official sources reported.

At least 200 additional remained trapped but had been contacted, the updates indicated. Media outlets reported that hundreds of emergency workers had gone up the mountain to assist those trapped and clear snow from obstructing the exit route.

There was minimal updates or updated information about the operation on Monday. Uncertainty remained if the weather had impacted anyone on the north face of Everest, also in Tibet. The region is tightly controlled by the Chinese government, and journalistic access is restricted. The conditions also seemed to have disrupted phone services, with attempts to contact shops failing. A number of hikers reported electricity was cut in Qudang when they reached the town.

Weather Patterns

Autumn is a peak season for the area, with usually calm and pleasant weather, but Chen Geshuang, among 18 members of a hiking party that made it back to Qudang, said that the weather this year was "not normal."

"The guide told us he had not experienced such weather in the fall. And it happened very abruptly."

The regional travel department announced ticket sales and access to the Everest Scenic Area were suspended from Saturday.

Regional Impact

Neighbouring countries were also hit by extreme weather. Torrential downpours caused mudslides and sudden flooding that have blocked roads, washed away bridges, and claimed the lives of at least 47 people since Friday in Nepal.