Over 900 Hikers Trapped on Mount Everest Amid Severe Weather
Rescue operations are currently ongoing at 5,000 meters on Mount Everest after a snowstorm severed access to campgrounds, leaving nearly a thousand hikers stranded on the eastern slopes. The severe weather has also caused fatalities in nearby areas, with at least 47 people in Nepal losing their lives due to flash floods and landslides.
Heavy snow started to fall on Friday evening and continued through Saturday, having blanketed mountain trails and campsites at an average elevation of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). Communication with some parts of the mountain reportedly remains limited.
Video footage from the scene shows dozens of tents buried or destroyed under heavy snow, as hikers wade through deep snowdrifts. One group of mountaineers moves cautiously past snow-covered vehicles, while others set up temporary shelters.
Hundreds of local villagers and rescue teams had reportedly been deployed to help remove snow blocking access to the area. Ticket sales and entry to the entire Everest Scenic Area were suspended from late Saturday.
The severe weather has also affected residential areas at the base of the mountain. Reuters reports at least 47 people in Nepal have died since Friday after heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides that blocked roads and swept away bridges.
Thirty-five fatalities were reported in separate landslides in the eastern Ilam district near the Indian border, while nine people remain missing after being swept away by floodwaters. Three others were reportedly killed by lightning strikes. Local authorities have warned of ongoing danger as unstable ground and poor visibility continue to hinder rescue and relief operations.