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Rescue teams have escorted all of the remaining trekkers near the east-facing slopes of Mount Everest in the Tibet region to security, along with scores of regional escorts and animal tenders, authorities stated. This marks the end one of the largest search-and-rescue operations ever conducted in the region.

Large-Scale Evacuation Effort Concluded

Several hundred of explorers were became trapped in deep snow over the weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an unusually fierce blizzard unleashed heavy snowfall across the territory.

Snow continued to fall all day Saturday in the valley, which sits at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had led approximately 350 hikers to safety.

Initial updates had indicated that the remaining roughly 200 travelers were anticipated to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, along with more than 300 local guides, livestock herders, and other support staff were evacuated, according to authoritative statements released on Tuesday evening.

Those Rescued Recount Severe Situations

One Chinese hiker recalled how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, forcing them to remove it every 90 minutes. They decided to go down on Sunday as the weather deteriorated.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we learned the snow was heavy in the valley, too; local residents, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Expedition Schedules Disrupted

The snowstorm also disrupted the objectives of climbers escorted by a US-based expedition firm to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between the People's Republic of China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first visited by western travelers a century ago. In modern times, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a major tourism destination, the area has attracted an increasing number of tourists. More than 540,000 tourists traveled to the Everest region last year, establishing a new record.

Region Remains Closed

The Everest region continues to be currently closed to the visitors, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Impact

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also affected many of trekkers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one individual lost their life, due to a blend of exposure and acute mountain sickness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a high season for the area, with normally sunny and pleasant weather, but one member of an 18-person hiking party that got back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “unusual.”