Hundreds stranded near Mount Everest after heavy snowfall hits Tibet
A severe snowstorm struck the Tibetan side of Mount Everest on October 4 and 5, 2025, trapping hundreds of trekkers and local guides at altitudes above 4 900 m (16 000 feet). The blizzard dumped up to 1 m (3.3 feet) of snow, isolating groups in the Karma Valley and Kangshung face region. More than 350 people have been rescued so far, while hundreds remain stranded as operations continue under difficult terrain and weather conditions.
Hundreds stranded near Mount Everest after heavy snowfall hits Tibet on October 4 and 5, 2025. Credit: Lingsuiye
A powerful snowstorm hit the eastern slopes of Mount Everest during China’s National Day holiday, cutting off mountain access routes and leaving large groups of trekkers unable to descend.
Authorities in the Tibet Autonomous Region report that between 800 and 1 000 people were initially trapped when heavy snowfall blocked trails and collapsed temporary shelters across the Kangshung face area.
By the morning of October 6, approximately 350 people had been escorted to safety in Qudang Township, according to regional officials. Rescue teams remain in contact with additional groups still stranded at high altitude, and ground operations continue as weather gradually improves.
Evacuation efforts are led by the Tibet Autonomous Region Emergency Command and Blue Sky Rescue Team, supported by local villagers using snow-clearing equipment to open blocked mountain roads and footpaths.
The affected trekking zone lies above 4 900 m (16 000 feet) on the Kangshung Face, one of the least accessible approaches to Everest. Helicopter support remains limited by thin air and wind conditions.
Several trekkers have shown symptoms of hypothermia and altitude-related illness, though no fatalities have been officially confirmed. Access to the Everest Scenic Area has been suspended, and ticket sales halted until rescue operations are completed.
The snowstorm formed as a strong upper-level disturbance moved across southern Tibet. Preliminary analyses suggest it interacted with moist air over the southern Himalayas, producing intense convective snowfall and accumulation exceeding 1 m (3.3 feet) in parts of the Karma Valley region. Visibility dropped below 50 m (160 feet) during peak intensity before the system weakened on October 6 as it moved eastward toward Sichuan.
On the Nepal side of the Himalayas, intense rainfall during the same period triggered landslides and flash floods, killing at least 60 people and damaging bridges and roads. The cross-border impact underscores the sensitivity of Himalayan weather systems to minor synoptic shifts during the post-monsoon transition.
Forecasts indicate gradual improvement in conditions across southern Tibet over the next 48 hours. Rescue teams continue clearing snow and reopening access routes toward the Kangshung Base Camp.
The National Meteorological Center of China (NMC) has advised continued caution as residual instability may sustain localized snow and wind through mid-week. New entries to the Everest Scenic Area are suspended until stability is confirmed.
Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
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