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Emergency crews have escorted all of the last adventurers near the eastern slopes of Everest in Tibet to security, along with numerous of native guides and yak herders, authorities stated. This concludes one of the most extensive rescue and recovery operations ever conducted in the region.

Large-Scale Evacuation Operation Completed

Hundreds of hikers were left stranded in heavy snow over the weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an unusually powerful snowstorm deposited heavy snowfall across the region.

Snow kept coming down throughout Saturday in the valley, which sits at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had guided approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Earlier reports had estimated that the last group of roughly 200 individuals were projected to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, along with more than 300 local guides, livestock herders, and other assistants were brought out, according to authoritative statements released on Tuesday late in the day.

Those Rescued Recount Severe Situations

One from China trekker shared how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, compelling them to clear it every 90 minutes. They decided to descend on Sunday as the situation deteriorated.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had set out for him. That’s when we found out the snow was heavy in the valley, too; community members, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were very anxious.”

Expedition Schedules Thwarted

The blizzard also hindered the objectives of alpinists escorted by a US-based mountaineering firm to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between the People's Republic of China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first explored by western adventurers a hundred years ago. In recent years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a major tourism draw, the area has drawn an rising number of travelers. More than 540,000 tourists explored the Everest region last year, establishing a new record.

Area Remains Off-Limits

The Everest region continues to be temporarily off-limits to the public, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Effect

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also influenced hundreds of hikers in other parts of western China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one individual died, due to a blend of low body temperature and acute mountain sickness.

Atypical Weather

October is typically a peak season for the area, with typically sunny and pleasant weather, but one member of an 18-person expedition team that got back to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “atypical.”