16-1-2024 (BEIJING) Approximately 1,000 tourists find themselves marooned in a remote holiday village in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region after avalanches triggered by heavy snowfall have impeded their evacuation. The state TV reported on Tuesday that Hemu village, a picturesque destination near the borders of Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia, has been cut off from road access for several days due to the avalanches. Parts of Xinjiang’s Altay Prefecture, where the village is located, have experienced continuous snowfall for the past ten days.
Over the weekend, Chinese state media outlets reported that the heavy snowfall resulted in numerous avalanches along highways in the Altay mountains, leading to the Kanas scenic area. Some tourists were airlifted to safety by helicopters. The avalanches brought snow levels as high as seven meters (23 feet) in certain areas, surpassing the height of snow clearing equipment, according to China Central Television (CCTV).
Clearing the buried road, which spans 50 kilometers (31 miles), has been underway for a week. However, the task has been further complicated by rocks, debris, and tree branches mixed in with the snow. The avalanches caused these materials to break off as they cascaded down pine and birch forest slopes towards a river valley, rendering rotary snow plough vehicles ineffective. Rescuers have been relying on shovels and excavators to assist in the operation.
The rescue and snow removal efforts have also been hindered by rapidly changing weather conditions in the mountainous region. The narrow windows of opportunity for supply missions have further added to the challenges. A military helicopter scheduled to deliver essential supplies, including flour and fuel, to Hemu village was delayed on Tuesday morning, as reported by CCTV.
The highway management authorities in Altay have mobilized 53 personnel and 31 sets of machinery and equipment to carry out the rescue and relief work. Zhao Jinsheng, the head of the highway management bureau, described the current avalanche situation as unique, with an unusually high frequency of avalanches accompanying the heavy snowfall. He anticipates that the snow clearing work to restore access to Hemu village will continue for some time due to the substantial volume of snow on the last four kilometers (2.5 miles) of the affected road.
