Hundreds of tourists left stranded on Mt Everest after massive snowstorm

Emergency teams are currently working to reach the campsites, all of which are 16,000ft above ground.

The teams have joined efforts with locals to assist with clearing the path, although the devastating weather conditions have caused some of the climbers' tents to collapse.

So far, officials have not yet confirmed any deaths from the catastrophic event. Some tourists have been able to be brought down, a report has claimed.

However, some have already fallen victim to the freezing conditions, catching hypothermia as temperatures plummet in the region.

The heavy snowstorm started on Friday night and has persisted throughout Saturday. Since then, officials have halted ticket sales and entry to the Everest Scenic Area.

"Many people's tents have been crushed, the camp has more than a metre of snow, and all the passageways down the mountain have been blocked," one witness told local media.

The emergency rescue mission continues to be underway to retrieve the remainder of the stranded tourists from the Tibetan side of the peak.

As the highest mountain on earth at 29,000ft above sea level, the point has snatched the lives of hundreds of climbers over the years, with eight deaths being reported during 2024.

Tourists have the choice of two main climbing routes, with one coming from the southeast in Nepal and the other from the north in Tibet.

Causes of death have ranged from exhaustion and frostbite to more ferocious events, such as falls and avalanches.

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The last time that such a large group of thrill-seeking hikers were trapped up the height was in 2010 when approximately 2,000 endured five days 9,000ft above sea level as stormy weather conditions gripped the area.

Similarly intense weather conditions over the border in Nepal have caused landslides and flash floods, leaving at least 47 dead, police have said.

A further 35 people died after falling victim to other landslides across the eastern Ilam district, which borders India.

As for the rest of the country, nine were said to be missing after floods swept them away, while another three were killed in lightning strikes.

In the two regions, rescue efforts continue to be underway in the hopes of retrieving more stranded tourists on Mount Everest.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has now declared both Monday and Tuesday as public holidays across the country, apart from emergency services and disaster response teams.

Government spokesman Rameshwar Dangal said that forecasts of heavy rain was the reason behind the particularly rare measure, with more than 12 districts on red alert.

Department chief Kamal Ram Joshi have cautioned local residents residing close to waterways to leave immediately, according to The Kathmandu Post.

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