A record 274 climbers successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest from the Nepal side in a single day on Wednesday, according to Nepalese mountaineering officials.
The new milestone was confirmed by Rishi Bhandari, General Secretary of the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal, in remarks to CNN. Officials said calm weather conditions and a rush among climbers to take advantage of a short favorable window contributed to the unprecedented number of summit attempts.
The previous single-day record was set on May 22, 2019, when 223 climbers reached the summit from the southern route. This year’s figure surpassed that record by more than 50 climbers.
Authorities noted that China did not issue permits for climbers attempting Everest from the Tibetan side this season, concentrating most expeditions on the Nepal route.
Mount Everest, standing at 8,848 meters (29,032 feet), typically sees the highest number of summit attempts during a brief period in May when strong winter winds ease. However, overcrowding on the mountain has remained a major safety concern for years.
In 2019, climber Nirmal Purja captured a widely circulated photograph showing long queues of climbers waiting near the summit in the so-called “death zone,” where oxygen levels are critically low. At the time, Purja said nearly 320 people were lined up on a narrow ridge leading to the peak.
This year’s climbing season also faced delays after the route near the Khumbu Icefall was blocked by a massive ice formation known as a serac. Specialized high-altitude workers, commonly called the “Icefall Doctors,” spent weeks clearing the path before reopening it on May 13.
The delay caused a buildup of climbers at base camps, intensifying fears of traffic congestion during the limited summit window.
Nepal has issued nearly 500 climbing permits for Everest this season, reflecting continued global interest in scaling the world’s highest mountain despite mounting environmental and safety concerns.
