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Hikers have described facing "extreme" conditions after an unexpected blizzard during one of China's most crowded holiday weekends stranded hundreds of people on Mount Everest, triggering a large-scale rescue operation.

Rescue Operations Underway

Chinese authorities reported that around 350 people had descended safely but at least 200 remained stranded at the Everest Scenic Area, situated to the eastern side of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border.

Crowds of tourists had traveled to the area for "Golden Week," an week-long festive break in China. However, Chinese authorities, who administer the Tibetan Autonomous Region, confirmed heavy snowfall had hit the area on the weekend, trapping numerous of individuals at tent sites at an elevation of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).

"This was the harshest conditions I've ever faced in all my trekking adventures, without question," a Chinese trekker stated on Weibo, describing a "intense blizzard on the east face" of Everest.

"I looked up in the middle of the night and noticed that the snow had nearly covered the peak," said a hiker on a social platform. "It was the first time I genuinely experienced the terror of being buried alive."

Eyewitness Reports

A hiker from China said their group had been "too scared to sleep" on that night as snow rapidly built up around their tents, compelling them to clear it every 90 minutes. They decided to descend on Sunday as the weather worsened.

"During the descent, we met our guide’s parent who had searched for him. It was then we discovered the storm was heavy in the lowlands as well; villagers, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried."

The north and east side of Everest is easier to reach than locations on the Nepal side of the border and attracts large crowds of tourists for easier hiking, not requiring ascent of the peak.

Online Documentation

Photos and video shared on the internet showed tents buried in snow and lines of hikers moving through deep snowbanks to get down the mountain.

"The snow was very deep, and the path very slick. Hikers often slipped – a few tumbled, others were bumped by yaks," said one, who clarified that everyone made it down and were transported by bus.

Latest Developments

By Sunday afternoon, approximately 350 individuals had arrived in Qudang, a small town roughly 50 kilometers away from the Tibetan base camp of Everest, "safe and sound," official sources announced.

No fewer than 200 more were still stranded but had been reached, the updates indicated. Media outlets reported that scores of rescuers had gone up the mountain to assist those trapped and remove accumulation from obstructing the exit route.

Officials provided little official reporting or new details about the operation on Monday. It was also not clear if the weather had impacted anyone on the north face of Everest, within the same region. The area is strictly regulated by the Chinese government, and journalistic access is restricted. The weather also appears to have have disrupted phone services, with attempts to contact shops failing. Several trekkers said electricity was cut in Qudang when they reached the town.

Seasonal Context

Autumn is a busy period for the region, with typically clear and mild weather, but Chen Geshuang, among 18 participants of a hiking party that made it back to Qudang, said that the weather this year was "not normal."

"The guide said he had never encountered conditions like this in the fall. And it occurred very abruptly."

The regional travel department said ticket sales and access to the Everest Scenic Area were suspended from the weekend.

Broader Effects

Adjacent nations were affected as well by severe conditions. Torrential downpours caused landslides and sudden flooding that have blocked roads, washed away bridges, and killed at least 47 individuals since the start of the weekend in the neighboring country.