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Search parties have escorted all of the last trekkers near the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet to safety, along with hundreds of regional escorts and livestock handlers, authorities stated. This wraps up one of the biggest rescue and recovery efforts ever conducted in the zone.

Massive Evacuation Effort Completed

Numerous of trekkers were became trapped in heavy snow over the past few days in the isolated Karma valley, after an exceptionally intense snowstorm dumped substantial snowfall across the region.

Snow persisted throughout Saturday in the valley, which is located at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescuers had led approximately 350 hikers to safety.

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

In total, 580 hikers, along with more than 300 escorts, animal handlers, and other crew members were rescued, according to government announcements released on Tuesday evening.

Survivors Describe Harsh Situations

One from China trekker described how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, forcing them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They chose to go down on Sunday as the weather deteriorated.

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

Climbing Schedules Disrupted

The severe weather also thwarted the goals of climbers escorted by a US-based expedition outfit to summit 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 Increase in the Region

Karma valley was first explored by foreign adventurers a century ago. In the past few years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant tourism destination, the area has brought in an increasing number of tourists. More than 540,000 visitors explored the Everest region last year, establishing a all-time high.

Area Still Off-Limits

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

Broader Effect

The intense snowfall over the weekend also influenced many of travelers in other parts of the western regions of China, such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one individual succumbed, due to a blend of exposure and high-altitude illness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a peak season for the area, with normally clear and pleasant weather, but one trekker of an 18-person hiking party that made it back to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “atypical.”