At Least 1,000 Tourists Trapped in Everest Snowstorm

Darwin, October 6 — At least 1,000 tourists and mountaineers have been trapped on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest due to a powerful snowstorm. Chinese media and news agency Reuters reported on Sunday that several camps near the eastern slope of Everest in Tibet have been affected, prompting local authorities to launch rescue operations throughout the day.

According to a report by Jimu News, roads leading to the high-altitude area—located about 4,900 meters (16,000 feet) above sea level—have been buried under heavy snow. Thousands of local villagers and rescue personnel have joined efforts to clear the snow-covered routes.

Reuters reported that the heavy snowfall began on Friday evening and continued throughout Saturday. The Tingri County Tourism Department stated that, due to the adverse conditions, the route to Everest has been temporarily closed, and new ticket sales have been suspended.

Local authorities confirmed that some tourists have already managed to descend to safety.

Meanwhile, on the Nepalese side of the border, continuous heavy rainfall has triggered landslides and flash floods, cutting off road communications and washing away multiple bridges. Since Friday, at least 47 people have been reported dead.

In Nepal’s Ilam district near the Indian border, separate landslides have claimed the lives of 35 people. Nine others remain missing after being swept away by floodwaters. Lightning strikes have also caused the deaths of three more individuals in various parts of India.