A fierce blizzard has gripped the Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest, leaving more than 200 climbers in a perilous situation. Fortunately, a swift and determined rescue operation, involving hundreds of local villagers and specialized teams, has already brought 350 individuals to safety. The conditions at the high-altitude campsites began to deteriorate significantly on Sunday, October 5, 2025, following continuous snowfall that started on Friday.
Reports from social media, including videos and firsthand accounts shared by the trapped climbers, paint a vivid picture of the unfolding crisis. The remote Karma valley area was pummeled by thunder, powerful winds, and relentless snow, which quickly buried the established trails, making navigation and escape incredibly difficult.
While Chinese state media has been slow to release extensive details, a BBC report on Monday, October 6, 2025, cited state-run CCTV, confirming that over 200 hikers remain stranded. This update also highlighted the successful rescue of approximately 350 climbers. Earlier accounts had suggested that as many as 1,000 holiday hikers were caught in the blizzard on the Chinese side of the world’s highest peak, known locally as Mt. Qomolangma, towering over 8,849 meters.
This challenging situation unfolds during China’s extended eight-day national holiday, which began on October 1, celebrating National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Compounding the region’s weather woes, Typhoon Matmo, the 21st named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, struck south China’s Guangdong Province on Sunday. Local authorities in Guangdong and Hainan provinces proactively evacuated around 347,000 residents as the typhoon, packing winds up to 151 kmph, approached the eastern coast of Xuwen County, Zhanjiang City.