A record 274 climbers reached the summit of Mount Everest in a single day from the Nepali side, officials said Thursday, marking the highest number of ascents ever recorded from that route.
The climbers took advantage of favorable weather conditions on Wednesday to scale the world’s tallest mountain, which stands at 8,849 meters (29,032 feet) and straddles the border between Nepal and China’s Tibet region.
Officials said no climbers ascended from the Tibetan side this year after Chinese authorities did not issue permits for expeditions.
Rishi Ram Bhandari of the Expedition Operators Association Nepal said the previous record from the Nepali side was 223 climbers on May 22, 2019.
He said the total for Wednesday could still rise because some climbers may not yet have reported their successful ascents to base camp officials.
Department of Tourism official Himal Gautam said authorities were still verifying the final count through photographs and supporting evidence before issuing official climbing certificates.
Nepal has issued 494 Everest climbing permits this season, with each permit costing $15,000.
Around the same number of Sherpa guides are also expected to attempt the climb before the season concludes later this month.
The surge in climbers has renewed concerns over congestion on Everest, particularly in the “death zone” below the summit, where oxygen levels are critically low.
Mountaineering experts have frequently criticized Nepal for allowing large numbers of climbers on the mountain, warning that overcrowding can create dangerous delays and traffic jams.
Nepal has introduced tighter controls and increased climbing fees in recent years to address safety concerns linked to inexperienced climbers and crowding.
Expedition organizer Lukas Furtenbach said high numbers alone did not necessarily create risks if expeditions were properly managed and supplied with enough oxygen.
Earlier this week, veteran guide Kami Rita Sherpa broke his own record after scaling Everest for the 32nd time.