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Emergency crews have safely led all of the remaining trekkers near the east-facing slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to a secure location, along with hundreds of regional escorts and animal tenders, authorities reported. This wraps up one of the most extensive rescue and recovery efforts ever undertaken in the zone.

Large-Scale Rescue Effort Concluded

Hundreds of explorers were left stranded in heavy snow over the recent weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an unusually fierce snowstorm dumped significant snowfall across the territory.

Snow persisted throughout Saturday in the valley, which sits at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had escorted approximately 350 hikers to security.

Initial updates had suggested that the remaining roughly 200 travelers were projected to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 hikers, in addition to more than 300 guides, livestock herders, and other assistants were brought out, according to authoritative reports released on Tuesday late in the day.

Survivors Recount Harsh Situations

One from China traveler recalled how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, obliging them to remove it every 90 minutes. They decided to descend on Sunday as the conditions worsened.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we found out the snow was intense in the valley, too; local residents, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Climbing Plans Disrupted

The snowstorm also disrupted the plans of alpinists escorted by a US-based mountaineering outfit to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the frontier between the People's Republic of China and the nation of Nepal.

Tourism Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first visited by foreign explorers a long time ago. In the past few years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant travel attraction, the area has brought in an rising number of visitors. More than 540,000 sightseers explored the Everest region last year, marking a new record.

Area Remains Off-Limits

The Everest region remains currently closed to the visitors, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Effect

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also affected numerous of trekkers in other parts of the western regions of China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one individual lost their life, due to a blend of exposure and altitude sickness.

Unusual Conditions

October is typically a busy season for the area, with normally fine and mild weather, but one trekker of an 18-person hiking party that returned safely to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “atypical.”