Rescue operation for stranded Everest trekkers already critical, experts warn: ‘In 24 hours you could die’

The 200 trekkers stranded on Mount Everest are already at risk of death, mountaineers have warned The Post.

Officials are racing to rescue those stuck on Everest after a freak blizzard hit the mountain’s Eastern face in Tibet, according to Chinese media reports.

But fears have grown as no official updates were issued Tuesday from Chinese authorities heading the operation, while sherpas and rescue crews make their way through deep snow and the risk of hypothermia and frostbite for those trapped increases.

“You had about 1,000 people that were trekking and camping and hiking in the foothills,” Alan Arnett, summiting coach and Everest chronicler, told The Post. “They weren’t prepared for it and a lot of people got in trouble.”

When attempting any kind of hike around the tallest peak in the world, preparedness is key and cutting corners deadly, Will Cockrell, author of “Everest, Inc.” warned.

“The temperatures are no joke, they get deadly cold very quick. The wind factor with the cold is deadly.  If you don’t have the right equipment and you are already cold, your life is in danger.

“In 24 hours, if you have frostbite, you could die fairly quickly. It would absolutely be a race against time,” he said.

“I can only imagine, when trapped, how quickly lives would be in danger from hypothermia if the right equipment was not with the trekkers,” Cockrell told The Post.

He also said if hikers have the correct equipment and experienced guides, there would be no problem hunkering down and waiting out the storm.

However, there have already been reports of flimsy tents blowing away and of trekkers wearing windbreakers and light raincoats being soaked and frigid by the storm.

Over 350 people were rescued Monday and Chinese authorities have said they made contact with those still stranded, but Arnett says it is still a major operation to bring them down.

“That snow is heavy, wet snow. It’s going to get moved by shovels or by bulldozers. China has drones that can carry 60 pounds at a time. My suspicion is that they will use drones to ferry in food and medical equipment until the roads get cleared,” he told The Post.

Arnett also pointed out the area is very rural and undeveloped with locals who mainly earn a living through “growing barley and raising yaks.” He said the only reason Tingri, a small village below where the hikers are stranded, has streets is because the Chinese military paved it to make a landing strip.

Lhakpa Sherpa, a world record holder who has summited Everest 10 times, pointed out how there are big differences between the Tibet side of the mountain, located in China, and the more commonly traveled routes originating from the south in Nepal.

She told The Post “the sherpas are more experienced in Nepal” and can make more money there, luring most of those with experience over from the Tibetan side of the mountain, where “winter comes early.”

However, Sherpa said she had been speaking with other experienced Everest guides close to the operation who told her the Chinese authorities have been able to get food up to some of the stranded people and they have set up a large kitchen for those who are rescued.

When the storm hit last weekend it was during one of the most popular times to visit the mountain for Chinese people as it was the in the middle of the eight-day national October holiday, known as Golden Week.

Although it is rare to get snowfall at the level of the storm, authorities had started issuing warnings a storm was coming days before, according to Arnett.