RESCUERS trying to save more than 200 climbers still stuck on Mount Everest are battling against “extreme” freak snow.
Almost 1,000 mountaineers GOT trapped more than 16,000ft up after a massive snow storm cut off their descent route.
Hundreds of rescue workers are racing to save more than 200 hikers still stranded on Mount Everest[/caption]
A sudden blizzard blew in and cut off descent routes[/caption]
Hundreds of local villagers and emergency workers have joined a days-long mission to to clear heaps of snow blocking the trails and guide walkers down.
Around 350 people were led to safety by the heroic teams on Sunday after facing being half-buried in their tents.
But efforts to fetch those still stranded have been hampered by tough conditions.
Footage shows the teams contending with brutal weather on the Tibetan side of the mountain.
The freak blizzard struck on Friday evening before it raged through the night and intensified into Saturday.
By Saturday, hundreds were stranded.
Treacherous conditions have seen tents collapse and climbers suffer with hypothermia.
One trekker said on Xiaohongshu: “I looked up in the middle of the night and saw that the snow had nearly covered the top.
“It was the first time I truly felt the fear of being buried alive.”
Another Chinese trekker, Dong Shuchang, said: “It was the most extreme weather I’ve ever faced in all my hiking experiences, without question.”
He added on Weibo that there was a “violent convective snowstorm on the eastern slope” of Everest.
Authorities said that the 350 they have rescued so far are now in the town of Qudang, China.
Fears are now mounting that the 200 hikers could be stuck for crucial hours longer as authorities race against the clock to reach them.
The plan is for them to arrive in Qudang in stages under the guidance and assistance of rescuers organised by the local government.
The lesser-known route offers a scenic path to the base of Everest with breathtaking views and is popular with tourists.
One hiker who was evacuated to Qudang township said their guide claimed the weather for October was “not normal”.
Villagers with oxen and horses struggle up the mountain to rescue the climbers[/caption]
Contact has been made with the more than 200 still trapped[/caption]
They told Reuters: “It was so wet and cold in the mountains, and hypothermia was a real risk… The weather this year is not normal.
“The guide said he had never encountered such weather in October… And it happened all too suddenly.”
Another witness told BBC: “All of us are experienced hikers… But this blizzard was still extremely difficult to deal with. I was so lucky to get out.”
The situation has also been complicated by the high volume of tourists – with China‘s Golden Week holiday taking place over the last week.
Access to Everest Scenic Area has been suspended since Saturday due to the intense snowfall.
One person reportedly died following the blizzard in China’s Qinghai province.
Local media said the mountaineer died from hypothermia and altitude sickness on Sunday in the Laohugou area.
Just across the border in Nepal, heavy rains have triggered landslides and flash floods.
The storms have sparked chaos, blocking roads and washing away bridges.
