A sudden and powerful blizzard hit the Tibetan side of Mount Everest on Friday, trapping nearly 1,000 hikers, guides, and support staff in remote mountain camps during China’s busy National Day holiday weekend, according to multiple state-run media reports.
The storm came without warning, catching trekkers and local workers off guard as they made their way through high-altitude trails popular during China’s annual eight-day holiday.
So far, at least 350 people have been rescued, with hundreds more expected to be brought down in the coming days. Some remain stranded in high-altitude camps surrounded by deep snow, cold temperatures, and blocked trails.
The worst-hit area was the Karma Valley, near Everest’s eastern Kangshung face, a lesser-traveled but increasingly popular destination. Elevations there average more than 13,700 feet, making the effects of the storm especially dangerous.
Officials say the blizzard began Friday, dumping heavy snow and freezing rain throughout the region and continued well into Saturday. The snow closed off roads and trekking paths, leaving hikers with limited shelter and few supplies.
EVEREST LOCKDOWN: 1,000 TRAPPED IN TIBETAN BLIZZARD
1000 climbers and tourists are stranded on Mount Everest’s Tibetan side after a blizzard buried the roads in snow and silence.
Rescue teams are clawing their way up the 16,000-foot slopes, digging through drifts just to… https://t.co/fFdCGdumqS pic.twitter.com/7SL3wEMnCM
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 5, 2025
EVEREST LOCKDOWN: 1,000 TRAPPED IN TIBETAN BLIZZARDState media outlet China Central Television (CCTV) reported that local rescue teams, joined by hundreds of villagers, helped evacuate groups of hikers to Qudang township, where temporary shelter and medical assistance were set up.
Rescuers faced severe weather and limited visibility, but were able to make contact with several hundred stranded people, many of whom were in camps now buried in snow.
Some hikers suffered from hypothermia and exposure, according to members of the Tibet Blue Sky Rescue Team, which has been leading parts of the operation. Emergency calls described collapsed tents, wet sleeping bags, and hikers unable to move due to deep snow and cold.
Trekker Chen Geshuang, who reached safety with 17 others, told reporters,
“It was so wet and cold in the mountains, and hypothermia was a real risk. The guide said he had never seen anything like it in October. It happened all too suddenly.”
Hundreds Rescued From Mount Everest Blizzard Stranding Nearly 1,000 — A sudden blizzard stranded nearly 1,000 climbers on the Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest, prompting a large-scale rescue operation. Hundreds have since been safely evacuated amid…https://t.co/9TvFf9sTr2
— Upstract (@upstract) October 5, 2025
Officials have suspended access to the Everest Scenic Area and paused ticket sales, as heavy equipment is now being used to try to clear the roads. It’s still unclear how many people remain stranded and what conditions they are facing.
China’s National Day holiday draws thousands to mountain destinations across Tibet and Nepal. The sudden shift in weather surprised even veteran guides, who said conditions like this are extremely rare in early October.
Meanwhile, the same storm system has been wreaking havoc across neighboring Nepal, where landslides and flash floods triggered by days of rain have left at least 47 people dead.
In Nepal’s eastern Ilam district, 35 people died in separate landslides near the Indian border. Other areas report missing persons and destroyed homes due to fast-moving floodwaters.
As of now, search and rescue missions are still ongoing across the Himalayan region. Emergency workers are working around the clock to reach those still stuck on the mountainside.
Authorities say the next 48 hours will be critical in bringing everyone to safety. The extreme weather has raised concerns about changing climate patterns in the region and how quickly storms can now form and turn dangerous — even during what is usually considered a safe trekking season.
More updates are expected as rescue efforts continue and authorities provide new information about those still stranded.
