BEIJING – A sudden burst of heavy snowfall in China’s north-west and western mountain regions over the weekend has left one hiker dead and hundreds stranded, according to state media reports on Oct 6.More than 200 hikers trapped near the eastern face of Mount Everest were being guided to safety, state broadcaster CCTV said late on Oct 5. Large numbers of outdoor enthusiasts had travelled to scenic mountain spots during the ongoing eight-day national holiday, only to be caught in the fast-changing extreme weather.
In Qinghai’s Tiger Valley, one hiker succumbed to hypothermia and altitude sickness, while over 130 others were rescued after coordinated efforts involving hundreds of rescuers and drones. Authorities said search operations were continuing to locate missing climbers.
In neighbouring Tibet, around 350 walkers trapped in a valley leading to Everest were safely evacuated to the nearby town of Qudang. Contact was also established with more than 200 others still in the high-altitude Karma Valley region, who are expected to reach safety gradually.
A rescued hiker shared footage online showing tents buried under thick layers of snow taken overnight on Oct 5. Meanwhile, across the border in Nepal and India, relentless rain has triggered landslides and flooding, claiming over 70 lives and isolating remote mountain communities as rescue teams struggle to reach them.