Nearly 1,000 people risk dying on Mount Everest, here’s why

A deadly snowstorm has trapped nearly 1,000 people on Mount Everest, leaving rescuers in a desperate race against time to save lives.

The unexpected blizzard hit late Friday, dumping more than a metre of snow on the world’s tallest peak and crushing several tents at high-altitude camps. Many climbers are reportedly battling hypothermia as temperatures plummet below freezing.

Rescue teams, joined by local villagers, are digging through heavy snow to clear blocked routes leading up to the camps, which sit around 16,000 feet above sea level.

According to Chinese state outlet Jimu News, some tourists have been brought down safely as emergency operations continue on the eastern slope of Everest in Tibet.

The situation worsened Saturday when conditions forced authorities to suspend ticket sales and entry into the Everest Scenic Area, citing “extreme weather and safety risks.”

One stranded witness told The Daily Star: “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.”

Officials say the storm, which began Friday night and raged through Saturday, is among the most violent to hit the region in recent years. With visibility still dangerously low and roads buried in snow, the coming hours could determine who survives this Everest nightmare.