On October 4th, the eastern slope base camp of Mount Everest in Tibet was hit by a severe snowstorm, with snow accumulating over one meter deep. Nearly a thousand people were trapped in the camp, and some showed symptoms of hypothermia, leading to a critical situation.
On October 5th, a netizen posted a plea for help, stating that on the 4th, a sudden snowstorm hit the base camp on the eastern slope of Mount Everest at an altitude of over 4900 meters, trapping nearly 1000 people unable to descend.
One netizen mentioned that her husband was also there and currently at the Tangxiang camp. She shared, “He just contacted me via satellite phone, saying that there was heavy snow about 80 centimeters high. He almost got crushed by the tent while sleeping last night, but luckily managed to crawl out in time.” Other pleas for help indicated that some individuals at the scene had started to show signs of hypothermia, resulting in a critical situation.
According to Sanxiang Metropolis Daily, tourists at the Everest base camp were trapped due to icy roads, forcing them to take shelter in tents. Several hiking groups were stranded at camps like Xiaowucuo, Tangxiang, and Rega. The camp tents were completely covered and even collapsed under snow accumulation, with some areas buried due to excessive snow, hindering movement.
Incomplete statistics suggest that the number of stranded individuals along the route could reach over a thousand, with some capable individuals managing to evacuate on their own, but many requiring rescue. However, due to signal disruptions and deep snow, the rescue efforts faced extreme challenges.
Starting at 17:50 on October 4th, the Everest scenic area was urgently closed, and ticket sales were suspended.
In the afternoon of the 5th, Mr. Sun, who had just descended from the eastern slope base camp of Mount Everest, told Jiemu News that it started snowing on the mountain on the night of the 3rd and continued without stopping until the 4th. He managed to descend before the road was blocked by the snow. Sun stated, “I heard from friends on the mountain that there was a snowstorm that night, and many people’s tents were crushed. The campsite snow reached over one meter deep, and all the pathways down the mountain were blocked.”
Sun explained that his camp was located at an altitude of 4950 meters and that to descend, they needed to pass through a pass at an altitude of over 5000 meters.
In China, there are two main Everest base camps, both located in Dingri County, Shigatse City, Tibet Autonomous Region. One is the west base camp in Zaxi Township, and the other is the east base camp in the Gamagou area of Qudang Township.
A staff member from the Everest scenic area responded, stating that hundreds of local villagers and rescue personnel were clearing snow on the mountain, and some pathways were already cleared by snowplows. From the evening of the 4th to the early hours of the 5th, several individuals were rescued and brought down the mountain, with ongoing rescue operations.
According to Xinhua News Agency, approximately 350 people have been rescued so far and reached the reception point in Qudang Town.
Comments from netizens in the video section mentioned, “I just read a comment saying that 20 to 30 people passed away,” and some claimed, “47 people passed away,” but as of now, there have been no official reports verifying any casualties.