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Emergency crews have safely led all of the remaining trekkers near the eastern slopes of Everest in Tibet to safety, including numerous of regional escorts and animal tenders, officials stated. This marks the end one of the biggest rescue and recovery efforts ever undertaken in the zone.

Large-Scale Rescue Operation Completed

Hundreds of explorers were became trapped in deep snow over the recent weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an unusually intense winter blast unleashed substantial snowfall across the region.

Snow continued to fall throughout Saturday in the valley, which rests at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had led approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

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

In total, 580 trekkers, along with more than 300 local guides, livestock herders, and other assistants were rescued, according to government announcements released on Tuesday night.

Those Rescued Recount Harsh Conditions

One Chinese hiker described how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, obliging them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They decided to go down on Sunday as the weather worsened.

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

Climbing Plans Thwarted

The blizzard also hindered the goals of climbers led by a US-based climbing firm to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Visitor Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first explored by international explorers a long time ago. In the past few years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant visitor attraction, the area has brought in an growing number of visitors. More than 540,000 sightseers traveled to the Everest region last year, setting a unprecedented number.

Region Remains Closed

The Everest region is still temporarily inaccessible to the public, including the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Effect

The intense snowfall over the weekend also influenced many of hikers in other parts of the western regions of China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one individual died, due to a combination of exposure and altitude sickness.

Unusual Weather

October is typically a peak season for the area, with normally fine and moderate weather, but one trekker of an 18-person expedition team that made it back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “not normal.”