In a dramatic rescue operation, 580 hikers stranded near Mount Everest due to severe weather have been safely evacuated to the Tibetan township of Qudang and surrounding areas. The rescue, reported by Chinese state media CCTV on Tuesday, also included 300 local guides, yak handlers, and support staff. A final group of approximately 10 hikers, accompanied by rescue workers, has reached a rendezvous point equipped with heating, oxygen, and emergency supplies but has yet to arrive in Qudang. The hikers were trapped at an altitude exceeding 4,900 meters (16,000 feet) after heavy snowfall blocked their route on Everest’s eastern slopes over the weekend. The unexpected blizzard occurred during China’s Golden Week holiday, a peak tourism season. October is typically favored for hiking in the Everest region due to clear skies and moderate temperatures. Hundreds of hikers had ventured onto the Karma Valley trail, a scenic but less-traveled route offering views of the world’s highest peak. The snowfall, which began on Friday evening and intensified over the weekend, caught even experienced guides off guard. One trekker, a veteran of over a dozen Himalayan expeditions, described the conditions as unprecedented. Among the stranded, several individuals showed signs of hypothermia, with one group reporting snow depths of up to a meter during their retreat. The rescue effort mobilized police, firefighters, and hundreds of Tibetan volunteers. In a related incident, one hiker in Qinghai province died from hypothermia and altitude sickness, while 137 others were evacuated. Meanwhile, neighboring Nepal has faced torrential rains, causing severe flooding and landslides that have claimed over 50 lives.