Storms Kill Dozens in Nepal, Everest Blizzard Traps Trekkers

A sudden blizzard on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest during China’s National Day holiday trapped as many as nearly 1,000 trekkers in the remote Karma Valley, with Chinese state media reporting hundreds have reached the township of Qudang and rescue teams and villagers clearing snow to guide others to safety. Tents collapsed and some hikers suffered hypothermia as teams including Blue Sky Rescue assisted, though roads remain difficult and authorities are still assessing whether climbers on the north face were affected. Separately, torrential rains across eastern Nepal have triggered widespread floods and landslides that officials say have killed dozens, with reported death tolls varying from initial counts of at least 11 to later reports of as many as 51 and many more missing or swept away. Ilam district and other parts of Koshi province were among the worst hit, where whole villages and homes were buried or swept away and key routes — including the Mechi Highway — were blocked, severely hampering access for relief teams. Nepalese authorities have deployed the army, helicopters and rescue teams, imposed vehicle restrictions and grounded domestic flights while issuing severe rainfall warnings as regional storms, including Typhoon Matmo and heavy monsoon downpours, forced evacuations and complicated search and relief operations.