Rescue efforts are reportedly underway at 5,000 meters after a snowstorm cut off roads to the campgrounds
Nearly a thousand hikers have been stranded on the eastern slopes of Mount Everest after a snowstorm cut off access routes, according to Chinese media. Rescue teams are reportedly operating at an elevation of near 5,000 meters (16,400 feet).
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.
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