Hundreds of Mount Everest hikers rescued after snow, storm strands them on world’s highest mountain — scores more still unaccounted for

Hundreds of hikers trapped on Mount Everest were rescued over the weekend, while scores more are still unaccounted for as unseasonably heavy snow and thunder pound the eastern face of the peak, according to local media.

Roughly 350 people were led back to the Qudang township by locals and rescuers while another 200-plus are still stuck on the mountain, but have been in contact with rescuers, CCTV reported Sunday – with no updates on Monday.

The Karma valley, a remote part of Tibet that leads to the eastern Kangshung face of Mount Everest, was flushed with extra visitors over the National Day holiday in China, which continues for eight days.

The dreadful conditions quickly overtook even the most veteran groups of hikers. The powerful snowstorm started on Friday and persisted through the weekend, soon followed by pelting rain that obscured any view of the famous peak.

Hundreds of villagers and groups of rescue teams were deployed to move snow that was cutting off access to the area, according to earlier reports from state-run Jimu News.

It’s unclear if any of the support groups brought in are among the accounted for since they journeyed out as the storm worsened over the weekend.

Eric Wen, who was rescued from the eastern face, said that three people in his 18-person party suffered hypothermia even though they were properly dressed for the conditions.

“It was raining and snowing every day, and we did not see Everest at all,” Wen said.

The group packed together in one large tent, but “hardly slept” as they moved in waves to clear the snow every 10 minutes.

“Otherwise our tents would have collapsed,” he said.

Wen assured that his party was largely unscathed by the time they were extricated from the site.

Chen Geshuang, another traveler part of an 18-strong trekking team saved from the storm, highlighted hypothermia as a “real risk” many faced regardless of how well prepared they were for the harsh conditions.

“The weather this year is not normal. The guide said he had never encountered such weather in October. And it happened all too suddenly,” she said.

The rescued trekkers were welcomed at the valley’s communal hall with refreshments, including hot soup and sweet tea, before boarding buses to take them away.

With Post wires.