Heavy snowfall and rain have caused major problems in the Himalayas near Mount Everest, with about 1,000 people trapped on the eastern side of the mountain in Tibet. The severe snowstorm began on Friday evening and continued into Saturday, blocking roads with deep snow.
As per media reports, rescue teams and hundreds of local villagers are working hard to clear roads and help people reach safety. So far, more than 350 trekkers have entered the town of Kodang, and more than 200 people have been contacted. It is hoped that the rest will reach Kodang soon with the help of rescue teams.
Many of the stranded pilgrims were tourists and trekkers enjoying China’s National Day holiday. They were in the remote Karma Valley, which leads to the eastern side of Everest. The valley is at an altitude of about 4,200 to 4,900 meters (13,800 to 16,000 feet), and temperatures have dropped dramatically, making hypothermia a real risk.
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One trekker, Chen Geshuang, said the weather had suddenly changed and was much worse than usual. “It was wet and cold, with thunder and lightning. We were very scared,” he said. His 18-person team safely reached Qadang, where villagers welcomed them with hot food and tea.
Another trekker, Eric Wen, said his group had to clear snow from their tents every 10 minutes to prevent them from collapsing. “We could hardly sleep. It was snowing very hard,” he said. Some of his group suffered from the cold but survived.
Meanwhile, across the border in Nepal, heavy rains caused landslides and flash floods. At least 47 people have died since Friday. Roads and bridges were destroyed, especially in the Alam district, near the Indian border. Nine people are missing after being swept away by floodwaters, and three more were killed by lightning.
Authorities in Tibet have closed access to the Everest scenic area for safety reasons. It is not yet clear whether trekkers on Everest’s north face have been affected.
