Rescuers worked to clear a snow-blocked road and free 86 tourists, including 13 foreigners, stranded on Monday at the northern base camp of Mount Qomolangma in the Tibet autonomous region.

An "unexpected" snowfall delivered by Cyclone Phailin hit southwestern parts of Xigaze prefecture on Sunday, trapping tourists at the base camp.

Local authorities said many of the 13 foreigners were Japanese.