In brief
Rescue teams in Tibet are working tirelessly to assist nearly 1,000 people trapped due to heavy snowfall on Everest's eastern side. The situation worsened as snow piled up, collapsing tents and leaving some hikers suffering from hypothermia. Local authorities have suspended operations in the region amid severe weather conditions.
Rescue efforts are currently underway in the remote Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest where a snowstorm has trapped nearly 1,000 people in campsites on the eastern side of the mountain, according to Chinese state media.
Hundreds of local villagers and rescue teams have been deployed to clear out snow blocking access to the area which sits at an altitude of more than 4,900 metres (16,000 feet).
Chinese media has reported that some tourists have already been rescued.
Heavy snowfall began on Friday evening and has intensified on the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet, which is a popular area for climbers and hikers.
Tibet's Blue Sky Rescue team received a call for help, indicating that tents had collapsed due to heavy snow and that some hikers were already suffering from hypothermia, according to Chinese state media.
The Tingri County Tourism Company has announced a suspension of ticket sales and entry to the Everest Scenic Area from Saturday, as reported by Reuters.
The region is also experiencing extreme weather; neighboring Nepal has been hit by heavy rains, causing landslides and flash floods, resulting in at least 47 fatalities over the last two days.
In China, Typhoon Matmo has made landfall, forcing around 150,000 people to evacuate their homes.
Mount Everest, the world's highest peak at over 8,849 meters, attracts many climbers every year, despite the dangers associated with the hike.
In recent years, concerns about overcrowding and environmental issues, as well as several fatal climbing attempts, have plagued the region.
