Hundreds rescued from Tibetan side of Mount Everest after blizzard stranding
Rescue efforts have brought home 350 trekkers, out of nearly 1,000 people from news accounts, that were stranded due to a blizzard, according to a Sunday update from Chinese state media.
Updated version as of Sunday at 2 p.m. EDT
Rescuers have returned 350 people back to safety on Sunday from the eastern slope of Mount Everest after they became stranded due to a blizzard, the latest report from Chinese state media says.
On Sunday, 350 people had been taken to the small township of Qudang while the remaining trekkers, exceeding 200, had been contacted by those involved in the rescue operation, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.
The remaining people that are still entrapped will arrive in Qudang in stages, getting guidance and assistance from rescuers organized by the local government, CCTV said.
Original story below
A blizzard that swept through parts of Tibet has trapped nearly 1,000 people on the eastern side of Mount Everest, according to local media reports in China.
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The snowfall, which began on Friday evening and continued through Saturday, blocked roads and access to the campsites on Tibet's eastern slope of the mountain, where the people were staying.
Rescue efforts to free the folks are currently underway, Reuters reported. According to Jimu News, hundreds of local villagers and rescue teams were dispatched to assist with removing snow that has blocked access to the area, which is situated at an altitude exceeding 4,900 metres (16,000 feet).
Some of the tourists on the mountain have been freed and brought back to safety, it stated.
The Tingri County Tourism Company issued a statement that said ticket sales and entry to the Everest Scenic Area were suspended on late Saturday.
With files from Reuters.
Thumbnail courtesy of Feng Wei Photography/ Moment/ Getty Images.
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