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Trekkers have described encountering "extreme" situations after an unseasonable blizzard during one of China's most crowded festive periods trapped numerous of individuals on Mount Everest, triggering a large-scale rescue effort.

Evacuation Efforts In Progress

Officials in China reported that around 350 individuals had made their way down but at least 200 were still trapped at the Everest Scenic Area, situated to the eastern side of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border.

Large groups of tourists had journeyed to the region for "Golden Week," an week-long festive break in China. However, Chinese authorities, who administer the Tibetan Autonomous Region, confirmed intense snow had hit the area on Friday and Saturday night, stranding numerous of people at tent sites at an elevation of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"This was the most extreme weather I've ever faced in all my trekking adventures, without question," a Chinese trekker stated on Weibo, detailing a "violent convective snowstorm on the eastern slope" of Everest.

"Glancing upward in the late hours and saw that the accumulation had almost covered the peak," said another trekker on a social platform. "That was the first time I truly felt the fear of being buried alive."

Eyewitness Reports

One Chinese trekker said their party had been "too scared to sleep" on Saturday as accumulation quickly piled up around their shelters, forcing them to clear it hourly. They decided to descend on Sunday as the weather deteriorated.

"On the way, we met our guide's father who had searched for him. That's when we discovered the storm was heavy in the valley too; locals, unable to reach their children on the mountain, were extremely worried."

The northern and eastern side of Everest is easier to reach than sites on the Nepal side of the border and draws large crowds of tourists for less technical hiking, without summiting the peak.

Online Documentation

Photos and video posted online showed tents covered by snow and lines of hikers walking through deep drifts to get down the mountain.

"The snow was very deep, and the path very slick. Hikers stumbled frequently – a few tumbled, some were jostled by yaks," said one, who clarified that everyone made it down and were transported by bus.

Current Status

By the weekend, about 350 individuals had reached Qudang, a small town roughly 50 kilometers away from the Tibetan starting point of Everest, "in good health," state media reported.

At least 200 additional were still stranded but had been contacted, the updates said. Local news reported that hundreds of rescuers had gone up the mountain to help people and clear snow from blocking the way out.

There was minimal updates or new details about the operation on the following day. It was also not clear if the weather had impacted anyone on the northern side of Everest, also in Tibet. The area is strictly regulated by the Chinese government, and media entry is limited. The weather also seemed to have affected local communications, with attempts to contact shops not connecting. A number of hikers said electricity was cut in Qudang when they reached the town.

Weather Patterns

Autumn is a busy period for the area, with usually calm and pleasant weather, but Chen Geshuang, one of 18 members of a hiking party that made it back to Qudang, commented that the climate this year was "unusual."

"Our leader told us he had not experienced such weather in the fall. And it occurred all too suddenly."

The local tourism authority said admissions and access to the Everest Scenic Area were suspended from the weekend.

Regional Impact

Neighbouring countries were also hit by severe conditions. Torrential downpours caused mudslides and flash floods that have blocked roads, washed away bridges, and killed at least 47 individuals since Friday in the neighboring country.