200 hikers stranded in Tibet after blizzard hits Mount Everest

More than 200 hikers were stranded after being caught in a sudden blizzard on the Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest, as per Chinese state media.

Authorities have said they have managed to contact all those trapped, while about 350 others have already been guided to safety by rescuers.

According to the BBC, the heavy snowstorm hit Karma Valley, a remote trekking route leading to Everest’s eastern face late on Friday, just as China’s Golden Week holiday got underway. The valley attracts large numbers of tourists during the holiday season.

Guides described the snowfall as unusually heavy for this time of year. One hiker told the BBC she woke to find a metre of snow piled up around her tent. “I was so lucky to get out,” she said after being led away through dangerous, snow-choked paths.

Rescue teams, supported by hundreds of locals, have been working in blizzard conditions to clear blocked trails and roads. Those still trapped face a long and difficult journey back to safety.

In Tibet, government control over information tightens further. State media have confirmed that hundreds were affected but emphasised that all stranded hikers have been accounted for and rescue work is continuing.

The extreme weather is part of a wider Himalayan crisis. In neighbouring Nepal, at least 47 people have died in recent days after heavy rains triggered landslides and floods.