Mount Everest Rescues: 350 Climbers Saved From Freak Storm

A massive rescue operation on the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet resulted in the evacuation of nearly 900 people following a sudden and powerful blizzard in October 2025. According to reports from China’s state news agency Xinhua, the operation successfully rescued 580 hikers along with more than 300 guides, yak herders, and other support workers who had been stranded by the storm.

The weather event, which struck during China’s eight-day National Day holiday, also resulted in at least one confirmed death, according to the BBC.

Storm Conditions and Impact

The blizzard began on the evening of October 3, 2025, and intensified throughout the weekend. The storm brought heavy snowfall and rain to the Himalayas, with the most severe conditions occurring near the eastern Kangshung face of Everest in Tibet’s Karma Valley, where elevations average over 13,779 feet.

In some areas, the snowfall reached depths of more than three feet, blocking roads and trails and cutting off access to routes popular with tourists during the Golden Week holiday. The affected region sits at altitudes exceeding 4,900 meters (16,000 feet), where hikers faced extreme cold and slippery terrain.

Isaac Wang, a 33-year-old IT engineer from Shanghai who was among the stranded, described the atmospheric conditions as absolutely terrifying. Wang told ABC News that on the night of October 4, 2025, his group had to wake up every hour to shovel snow off their tents to prevent them from collapsing.

The lighting was bright and red, the thunder was a long deep rumbling. I’ve never seen or heard of anything like that

Isaac Wang

Other survivors reported severe physical distress. Nature photographer Dong Shuchang, who had been to the Himalayas more than a dozen times, stated that he had never experienced such weather. Dong reported that several people in his group of 20 showed signs of hypothermia after their raincoats and windbreakers were drenched by the heavy snow and sleet.

Rescue Operations

Local rescue teams, emergency workers, and villagers were deployed to clear deep snow from mountain passes to reach the stranded groups. Initial rescue efforts guided 350 people to safety in the small township of Qudang. Authorities maintained contact with the remaining hikers as the evacuation continued in stages.

The operation involved a combination of professional rescue teams and local support staff, including yak herders, to navigate the snowbound region and bring trekkers to safety.

Following the event, authorities temporarily closed the eastern part of the Mount Everest region to the public. This surge in outdoor sports and high-altitude trekking has been linked to a growing trend among China’s urban middle class seeking health, wellness, and social connections since the pandemic, according to ABC News.