Mount Everest experienced a historic day on Wednesday with 274 climbers reaching its summit from the Nepalese side, an absolute record for a single day, according to authorities and expedition organizers in Nepal.
Reaching a height of 8,849 meters on the border between Nepal and Chinese Tibet, Mount Everest attracts hundreds of climbers from around the world each year. This season, however, all ascents have been made from the Nepalese side, as the Chinese authorities have not issued any climbing permits for the Tibetan side.
According to Rishi Bhandari, the previous record on the Nepalese side was set on May 22, 2019, with 223 ascents in a single day. The world record across all slopes remains at 354 summits reached on May 23, 2019, according to Guinness World Records.
Nepalese officials even believe that the announced figure could still increase, as some climbers have not yet officially reported their arrival at the summit to base camp.
This massive influx, however, has reignited concerns about safety on the mountain, particularly in the notorious "death zone," located at very high altitude, where the lack of oxygen makes every minute extremely dangerous. Images showing long lines of climbers near the summit have revived criticism of the site's overcrowding.
In response to these concerns, Nepal has tightened its controls on expeditions and increased climbing permit fees in recent years. Despite these measures, Everest continues to attract record numbers of climbers, drawn by the challenge of conquering the world's highest peak.
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