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Hikers have recounted facing "harsh" conditions after an unexpected snowstorm during one of China's most crowded festive periods trapped hundreds of people on Mount Everest, triggering a massive rescue effort.

Rescue Operations In Progress

Officials in China stated that around 350 people 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 Tibet side of the border.

Crowds of tourists had traveled to the area for "Golden Week," an eight-day festive break in China. However, Chinese authorities, who control the Tibetan Autonomous Region, said intense snow had affected the area on the weekend, trapping numerous of people at tent sites at an elevation of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"It was the harshest conditions I've ever faced in all my hiking experiences, undoubtedly," Dong Shuchang said on social media, detailing a "intense snowstorm on the eastern slope" of Everest.

"I looked up in the middle of the night and noticed that the accumulation had nearly covered the peak," said another trekker on Xiaohongshu. "That was the initial instance I genuinely experienced the fear of being engulfed by snow."

Personal Accounts

One Chinese trekker mentioned their party had been "too scared to sleep" on Saturday as snow quickly piled up around their shelters, compelling them to clear it hourly. They decided to descend on Sunday as the weather deteriorated.

"During the descent, we encountered our guide's father who had searched for him. It was then we learned the snow was heavy in the lowlands as well; locals, unable to contact their family on the mountain, were extremely worried."

The north and east side of Everest is more accessible than locations on the Nepal side of the border and draws high numbers of visitors for easier hiking, not requiring ascent of the peak.

Visual Evidence

Photos and video posted online depicted tents buried in snow and rows of trekkers moving through waist-high snowbanks to descend the mountain.

"It was extremely thick, and the path very slick. Hikers often slipped – some fell, others were bumped by pack animals," noted a trekker, who added that all safely descended and were transported by bus.

Latest Developments

By Sunday afternoon, about 350 individuals had reached Qudang, a small town roughly 50 kilometers away from the Tibet-side starting point of Everest, "safe and sound," state media reported.

At least 200 additional were still stranded but had been reached, the updates said. Media outlets reported that scores of emergency workers had ascended the mountain to help people and clear snow from obstructing the exit route.

There was minimal updates or updated information about the operation on Monday. Uncertainty remained if the storm had affected anyone on the north face of Everest, also in Tibet. The area is strictly regulated by the authorities, and journalistic access is limited. The conditions also seemed to have disrupted local communications, with attempts to contact shops failing. Several trekkers said electricity was cut in Qudang when they arrived.

Seasonal Context

Autumn is a busy period for the region, with usually calm and pleasant conditions, but Chen Geshuang, one of 18 members of a hiking party that made it back to Qudang, said that the climate this year was "not normal."

"Our leader said he had never encountered conditions like this in the fall. And it occurred very abruptly."

The local tourism authority announced admissions and entry to the Everest Scenic Area were halted from the weekend.

Regional Impact

Neighbouring countries were also hit by severe conditions. Torrential downpours triggered mudslides and flash floods that have closed routes, destroyed crossings, and killed at least 47 people since Friday in the neighboring country.