A record number of 274 people scaled Mount Everest via Nepal on Wednesday, after a late start to this year's spring season due to a huge chunk of ice blocking the climbing route, BBC reported. 

Everest aspirants seized the good weather conditions to attempt the summit, tourism department official Khimlal Gautam told Everest Chronicle. The climbs began at 03:00 local time and continued for 11 hours, he added.

Wednesday's milestone surpassed the previous high set on 22 May 2019, when 223 climbers scaled the mountain from its southern side in Nepal.