Rescue efforts are underway on Mount Everest after a powerful blizzard swept across the eastern slopes. The storm trapped more than a thousand hikers at roughly 16,000 feet.
Hundreds of rescuers took to the mountain on Sunday to help clear paths for hikers to get down.
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Chinese State media reported that approximately 350 hikers have reached a meeting point in Tingri. They said rescuers are in contact with another 200.
Snowstorm traps nearly 1,000 hikers
The rescue efforts began after the snow started falling Friday. As SAN previously reported, the storm cut off access to popular high-altitude routes and crushed tens, leaving hikers stranded in freezing conditions with little shelter.
Officials believe hikers were trapped at altitudes exceeding 16,000 feet, where exposure to the elements can quickly become life-threatening.
The snowfall trapped hikers at a tourist camp, which, according to the Associated Press, is reportedly separate from the base camp for climbers attempting to summit the mountain.
Recent unusual weather
The snowstorm comes after the area experienced unusual weather patterns. Prior to the snowstorm, Nepal had heavy monsoon rains which triggered multiple landslides and caused damage to rural communities.
Across the border in China, there was a typhoon that forced more than 15,000 residents to evacuate.
