BEIJING (Oct 6) — One hiker was killed and 137 others were rescued after being stranded in a powerful blizzard on the Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest, Chinese authorities said on Monday.
According to state-run Xinhua News Agency, a 41-year-old male hiker died from hypothermia and acute altitude sickness as rescue teams struggled through extreme weather conditions to reach those trapped.
Officials said dozens of climbers remain unaccounted for, and search and rescue operations are ongoing across the affected areas, which include high-altitude trekking routes on the north side of the mountain.
Local authorities have deployed additional rescue teams, helicopters, and medical personnel as snow and freezing winds continue to hamper operations.
The blizzard, which struck suddenly over the weekend, is among the worst weather events to hit the region this season, catching many hikers off guard. Tibetan authorities have urged all climbers to postpone expeditions until weather conditions stabilize.