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Hikers have recounted facing "harsh" situations after an unexpected snowstorm during one of China's most crowded holiday weekends trapped numerous of individuals on Mount Everest, sparking a massive rescue effort.

Rescue Operations In Progress

Officials in China reported that around 350 people had made their way down but at least 200 remained stranded at the Everest Scenic Area, located to the eastern side of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border.

Large groups of visitors had traveled to the area for "Golden Week," an eight-day festive break in China. However, Chinese authorities, who control the Tibetan Autonomous Region, confirmed intense snow had hit the area on Friday and Saturday night, trapping numerous of people at campsites at an elevation of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"It was the most extreme weather I've ever faced in all my hiking adventures, without question," Dong Shuchang stated on social media, describing a "intense snowstorm on the east face" of Everest.

"I looked up in the middle of the night and saw that the accumulation had nearly covered the peak," shared another trekker on a social platform. "It was the initial instance I truly felt the terror of being buried alive."

Personal Accounts

A hiker from China said their party had been "too frightened to sleep" on that night as snow rapidly built up around their tents, forcing them to clear it hourly. They decided to go down on the next day as the conditions worsened.

"On the way, we encountered our guide’s parent who had searched for him. That's when we discovered the snow was heavy in the lowlands too; locals, unable to reach their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned."

The north and east side of Everest is easier to reach than locations on the neighboring side of the border and draws high numbers of tourists for less technical trekking, without summiting the peak.

Online Documentation

Photos and video shared on the internet depicted tents buried in snow and lines of hikers walking through deep drifts to descend the mountain.

"The snow was extremely thick, and the trail very slick. Hikers stumbled frequently – a few tumbled, others were bumped by yaks," said one, who added that all safely descended and were transported by bus.

Current Status

By the weekend, about 350 people had arrived in Qudang, a village about 30 miles away from the Tibetan base camp of Everest, "in good health," state media reported.

At least 200 additional remained trapped but had been contacted, the reports indicated. Media outlets stated that scores of rescuers had ascended the mountain to help people and clear snow from blocking the exit route.

There was minimal updates or new details about the operation on Monday. It was also not clear if the weather had impacted individuals on the north face of Everest, also in Tibet. The area is strictly regulated by the Chinese government, and journalistic access is limited. The weather also seemed to have disrupted local communications, with attempts to contact shops failing. A number of hikers said electricity was cut in Qudang when they reached the town.

Seasonal Context

Autumn is a busy period for the area, with usually clear and mild conditions, but one trekker, one of 18 participants of a trekking group that returned to Qudang, said that the weather this year was "not normal."

"Our leader said he had never encountered such weather in the fall. And it happened all too suddenly."

The regional travel department announced admissions and entry to the Everest Scenic Area were halted from the weekend.

Broader Effects

Adjacent nations were also hit by severe conditions. Torrential downpours caused landslides and flash floods that have blocked roads, destroyed crossings, and killed at least 47 people since Friday in the neighboring country.