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Search parties have safely led all of the last adventurers near the east-facing slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to security, including scores of native guides and animal tenders, officials reported. This concludes one of the most extensive search-and-rescue efforts ever conducted in the area.

Large-Scale Rescue Operation Concluded

Hundreds of trekkers were became trapped in thick snow over the weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an unexpectedly fierce snowstorm unleashed substantial snowfall across the territory.

Snow continued to fall all day Saturday in the valley, which is located at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had escorted approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Earlier reports had suggested that the last group of roughly 200 travelers were projected to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, along with more than 300 local guides, yak herders, and other assistants were brought out, according to government announcements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Survivors Recount Severe Conditions

One from China traveler recalled how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, forcing them to remove it every 90 minutes. They opted to go down on Sunday as the situation became more severe.

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

Climbing Schedules Disrupted

The snowstorm also thwarted the plans of climbers led by a American mountaineering company to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between China and Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first discovered by western adventurers a long time ago. In modern times, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent tourism destination, the area has drawn an increasing number of visitors. More than 540,000 sightseers visited the Everest region last year, establishing a all-time high.

Area Remains Closed

The Everest region remains temporarily inaccessible to the visitors, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Effect

The significant snowfall over the weekend also affected many of trekkers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one person lost their life, due to a combination of exposure and altitude sickness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a busy season for the area, with typically clear and pleasant weather, but one member of an 18-person hiking party that made it back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “not normal.”