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Trekkers have described encountering "extreme" conditions after an unseasonable snowstorm during one of China's most crowded festive periods stranded numerous of individuals on Mount Everest, sparking a large-scale rescue operation.

Rescue Operations Underway

Chinese authorities reported that approximately 350 individuals had made their way down but at least 200 remained stranded at the Everest Scenic Area, situated to the eastern side of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border.

Crowds of tourists had journeyed to the area for "Golden Week," an eight-day holiday period in China. However, local officials, who control the Tibetan Autonomous Region, confirmed heavy snowfall had affected the area on Friday and Saturday night, stranding numerous of individuals at tent sites at an altitude of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"This was the harshest weather I've ever faced in all my hiking adventures, without question," a Chinese trekker stated on Weibo, describing a "intense blizzard on the east face" of Everest.

"Glancing upward in the late hours and saw that the accumulation had nearly covered the peak," said a hiker on a social platform. "It was the first time I genuinely experienced the terror of being buried alive."

Personal Accounts

A hiker from China mentioned their party had been "too frightened to sleep" on that night as snow rapidly built up around their shelters, compelling them to clear it hourly. They decided to descend on Sunday as the conditions worsened.

"During the descent, we met our guide’s parent who had searched for him. That's when we discovered the snow was intense in the valley too; locals, unable to contact their family on the mountain, were extremely worried."

The northern and eastern side of Everest is more accessible than locations on the Nepal side of the border and attracts large crowds of visitors for less technical trekking, not requiring ascent of the peak.

Online Documentation

Photos and video shared on the internet depicted tents covered by snow and rows of trekkers walking through waist-high snowbanks to descend the mountain.

"The snow was very deep, and the path extremely slippery. Trekkers often slipped – a few tumbled, others were bumped by pack animals," said one, who added that all safely descended and were transported by bus.

Latest Developments

By Sunday afternoon, about 350 individuals had arrived in Qudang, a village about 30 miles away from the Tibetan starting point of Everest, "safe and sound," official sources reported.

No fewer than 200 additional were still stranded but had been contacted, the reports indicated. Local news stated that hundreds of rescuers had ascended the mountain to assist those trapped and clear snow from obstructing the way out.

Officials provided little official reporting or updated information about the operation on Monday. It was also not clear if the weather had affected anyone on the north face of Everest, also in Tibet. The area is tightly controlled by the Chinese government, and media entry is restricted. The conditions also appears to have have disrupted local communications, with calls to local businesses failing. A number of hikers said power was out in Qudang when they reached the town.

Weather Patterns

Autumn is a peak season for the region, with typically calm and pleasant weather, but Chen Geshuang, among 18 participants of a trekking group that returned to Qudang, said that the climate this year was "not normal."

"The guide said he had not experienced conditions like this in October. And it occurred very abruptly."

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

Broader Effects

Neighbouring countries were affected as well by extreme weather. Heavy rains caused mudslides and flash floods that have blocked roads, washed away bridges, and killed at least 47 individuals since the start of the weekend in Nepal.