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Emergency crews have successfully guided all of the remaining adventurers near the eastern slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to security, including scores of native guides and animal tenders, local government announced. This concludes one of the largest rescue and recovery operations ever conducted in the region.

Massive Rescue Operation Completed

Numerous of hikers were found themselves stuck in heavy snow over the weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an exceptionally powerful winter blast dumped heavy snowfall across the area.

Snow persisted all day Saturday in the valley, which sits at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had guided approximately 350 hikers to security.

Previous accounts had suggested that the remaining roughly 200 hikers were expected to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, along with more than 300 guides, yak herders, and other crew members were brought out, according to authoritative reports released on Tuesday night.

Survivors Describe Severe Conditions

One from China trekker recalled how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, forcing them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They opted to descend on Sunday as the weather worsened.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we found out the snow was intense in the valley, too; villagers, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Climbing Plans Disrupted

The snowstorm also disrupted the goals of climbers guided by a American expedition company to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between the People's Republic of China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first discovered by international explorers a hundred years ago. In recent years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent travel destination, the area has drawn an rising number of visitors. More than 540,000 visitors traveled to the Everest region last year, establishing a all-time high.

Region Remains Off-Limits

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

Wider Effect

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also influenced many of hikers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual lost their life, due to a mix of hypothermia and high-altitude illness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a busy season for the area, with usually fine and moderate weather, but one trekker of an 18-person hiking party that returned safely to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “not normal.”