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Hikers have described encountering "harsh" situations after an unexpected snowstorm during one of China's most crowded holiday weekends stranded hundreds of individuals on Mount Everest, sparking a massive rescue operation.

Rescue Operations In Progress

Chinese authorities stated that around 350 individuals had descended safely but at least 200 remained stranded at the Everest Scenic Area, situated to the east of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border.

Crowds of visitors had journeyed to the region for "Golden Week," an eight-day festive break in China. However, Chinese authorities, who administer the Tibetan Autonomous Region, confirmed heavy snowfall had hit the area on the weekend, trapping numerous of individuals at campsites at an altitude of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"It was the most extreme weather I've experienced in all my hiking experiences, without question," a Chinese trekker said on social media, describing a "intense blizzard on the eastern slope" of Everest.

"Glancing upward in the late hours and saw that the snow had almost covered the top," said a hiker on a social platform. "That was the initial instance I truly felt the fear of being engulfed by snow."

Personal Accounts

One Chinese trekker mentioned their party had been "too frightened to sleep" on Saturday as snow rapidly built up around their tents, compelling them to clear it every 90 minutes. They chose to descend on Sunday as the conditions worsened.

"On the way, we encountered our guide's father who had come looking for him. That's when we discovered the snow was intense 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 sites on the Nepal side of the border and draws high numbers of tourists for less technical hiking, not requiring ascent of the peak.

Online Documentation

Photos and video shared on the internet depicted tents covered by snow and lines of hikers moving through waist-high snowbanks to get down the mountain.

"The snow was very deep, and the trail very slick. Trekkers stumbled frequently – a few tumbled, some were jostled by pack animals," noted a trekker, who added that all safely descended and were transported by bus.

Latest Developments

By Sunday afternoon, approximately 350 individuals had arrived in Qudang, a village about 30 miles away from the Tibetan starting point of Everest, "safe and sound," official sources reported.

At least 200 more were still stranded but had been reached, the updates indicated. Media outlets reported that scores of rescuers had gone up the mountain to help people and remove accumulation from blocking the way out.

Officials provided little official reporting or new details about the operation on Monday. Uncertainty remained if the storm 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 conditions also appears to have have disrupted local communications, with attempts to contact shops not connecting. A number of hikers said electricity was cut in Qudang when they arrived.

Weather Patterns

October is a busy period for the area, with typically clear and mild conditions, but Chen Geshuang, among 18 participants of a hiking party that made it back to Qudang, said that the climate this year was "unusual."

"Our leader said he had never encountered such weather in October. And it occurred all too suddenly."

The local tourism authority said ticket sales and access to the Everest Scenic Area were suspended from Saturday.

Broader Effects

Neighbouring countries were affected as well by extreme weather. Heavy rains caused landslides and sudden flooding that have blocked roads, destroyed crossings, and claimed the lives of at least 47 individuals since Friday in Nepal.