Close to 1,000 People Stuck on the World's Highest Peak Slopes
Search and rescue missions are under way on the isolated Tibetan slopes of the Himalayan peak, where a intense snowstorm has stranded nearly a thousand climbers in base camps on the east-facing side of the summit.
Several hundred community members and response units have been dispatched to remove snow preventing access to the zone, which rests at an height of more than 16,000 feet.
A number of hikers have been evacuated successfully from the affected area.
A major snow event commenced on Friday evening and has worsened on the eastern slopes of Everest in the Tibetan region, an area favored by climbers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Authorities confirm that camping structures had fallen due to the heavy snow, and a number of hikers were suffering from hypothermia.
Entry passes and admission to the Everest tourism site have been halted effective Saturday.
The region is undergoing extreme weather, with adjacent the country of Nepal being hit hard by intense rainfall that have triggered landslides and sudden flooding, destroying crossings and causing the death of at least 47 persons in the past 48 hours.
In the region, a severe weather system has arrived, forcing around 150,000 individuals to relocate from their houses.
Everest is the world's highest peak at more than 29,032 feet. Even though numerous climbers try to ascend the top each year, it is regarded as an incredibly dangerous hike.
In the past few years, it has been affected by issues with over-tourism, conservation challenges, and a series of deadly expeditions.
