At least one hiker is dead and hundreds are stranded on Mount Everest’s Tibet side after a snowstorm slammed the mountain during China’s Golden Week holiday. According to the BBC, the snowfall began Friday evening before intensifying over the weekend.
Local villagers and rescue workers are all working to clear out the snow blocking access to the region. Many hikers are at an altitude of over 16,000 feet. 350 people have been guided to safety in the town of Qudang and authorities are in contact with the hikers still trapped.
China is currently celebrating a week-long National Holiday, Golden Week, bringing in an increase in local tourism. Everest’s eastern slopes in Tibet is an area frequented by hikers and climbers, especially in October when clear skies and friendly temperature are common.
Everest itself is considered an incredibly dangerous hike, with overcrowding, environmental concerns, and deaths persisting around the mountain. The area is currently facing extreme weather, with neighboring Nepal suffering from torrential rains and floods that have killed at least 47 people.
