Mount Everest: Rescue under way after hundreds trapped on Tibetan slopes

What we know so farpublished at 02:13 BST

02:13 BST

Snowfall in the valley of Karma, which leads to the eastern face of Everest, began on Friday evening and continued through Saturday – leaving hundreds of hikers stranded.

Local media initially said around 1,000 hikers were stranded. On Monday, Chinese state media reported that 350 people were evacuated while around 200 remaining have been contacted.

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 4,900m (16,000ft).

Tticket sales and entry to Everest Scenic Area have been suspended since Saturday due to heavy snowfall, local authorities said.

Over the past week domestic tourism has boomed in China, which is in the middle of its week-long National Day holiday known as the Golden Week.