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Search parties have safely led all of the remaining trekkers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to safety, along with hundreds of local guides and animal tenders, officials announced. This marks the end one of the largest search-and-rescue operations ever conducted in the zone.

Massive Evacuation Effort Concluded

Several hundred of explorers were found themselves stuck in heavy snow over the weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an unusually fierce winter blast unleashed substantial snowfall across the region.

Snow persisted throughout Saturday in the valley, which rests at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had led approximately 350 hikers to safety.

Previous accounts had estimated that the last group of roughly 200 travelers were anticipated to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 trekkers, coupled with more than 300 escorts, livestock herders, and other assistants were rescued, according to government reports released on Tuesday night.

Survivors Describe Extreme Conditions

One Chinese traveler recalled how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, forcing them to remove it every 90 minutes. They opted to move to lower ground on Sunday as the situation worsened.

“On the way, we encountered our guide’s father, who had come looking for him. That’s when we realized the snow was deep in the valley, too; community members, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Climbing Plans Thwarted

The severe weather also disrupted the goals of alpinists guided by a United States climbing company to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Tourism Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first discovered by western adventurers a hundred years ago. In recent years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant tourism draw, the area has brought in an rising number of tourists. More than 540,000 sightseers visited the Everest region last year, establishing a unprecedented number.

Area Still Off-Limits

The Everest region continues to be for the time being off-limits to the visitors, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Impact

The significant snowfall over the weekend also impacted hundreds of travelers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one person succumbed, due to a mix of hypothermia and altitude sickness.

Unusual Conditions

October is typically a high season for the area, with typically clear and pleasant weather, but one trekker of an 18-person hiking party that returned safely to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “atypical.”