Hundreds evacuated after hiker dies on Mount Everest amid snowstorm

At least one hiker has been reported dead after a sudden snowstorm hit Tibet and Qinghai over the weekend, as rescue operations continue to evacuate hundreds of people from the eastern slopes of Mount Everest, Chinese media reported.

State broadcaster CCTV said on Monday that one hiker died from hypothermia and altitude sickness on Sunday in the Laohugou area of Qinghai province.

Nearly 1,000 people were stranded in the region after a sudden blizzard blocked access roads and collapsed tents.

As of Monday, 137 stranded individuals with stable vital signs had been safely evacuated, whereas 350 trekkers stranded by the blizzard snowstorm that hit the eastern slope base camp of the world's tallest mountain had safely arrived at the rescue point.

Local authorities said they have also established contact with more than 200 others, who are expected to be safely returned.

Some 300 rescuers backed by two drones are carrying out the search and rescue operations in the Laohugou area, as continuous snowfall made the task "very challenging."

Laohugou sits at an altitude of over 4,000 metres (13,000 feet).

Hundreds of hikers were also stranded on the eastern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet over the weekend.