Stranded tourists airlifted to safety after avalanches hit China
A total 6km of highways were buried in snow, according to CCTV
15 January 2024 - 09:35
byBernard Orr
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Tourists stranded as a result of avalanches hitting highways are airlifted to safety by helicopter in Burqin County, Xinjiang province, China in this screengrab from social media video released on January 15 2024. Picture: Video Obtained by Reuters/via REUTERS
Beijing — Some tourists stranded for several days after avalanches hit highways leading to a popular winter tourism area in China’s northwest region of Xinjiang were lifted by helicopter to safety, according to local media reports on Sunday.
Days of heavy snow at Altay Prefecture in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region triggered dozens of avalanches on large sections of highways at the Altai Mountains leading to the Kanas scenic area, Chinese state media outlets Xinhua and CCTV News reported on Saturday and Sunday.
A total 6km of highways were buried, according to CCTV.
Altay, known for its ski resorts, is a popular destination for winter tourism. China has experienced a huge boom in winter travel at north and northeastern cities over the past few weeks.
The snow and avalanches blocked many roads leading to Kanas, Hemu, Baihaba and other scenic spots in Burqin County, burying traffic and stranding tourists, Xinhua reported.
The Kanas scenic area management committee released a notice at the weekend saying stranded tourists will be provided accommodation free of charge, Xinhua said.
The crew of an army aviation brigade in Xinjiang loaded fuel, generators, rice, flour, oil, and other materials onto a helicopter and went to Kanas, according to Tianshan Net-Xinjiang Daily.
“After arriving at the point, staff quickly unloaded the supplies, and at the same time, some of the people who were trapped due to the heavy snowfall boarded the plane and were transferred from the Kanas Visitor Centre to Kanas Airport,” the media outlet reported on Sunday.
But after completing the mission, the weather changed abruptly with more wind and snow, suspending additional rescue efforts, the report added.
The Kanas scenic area management committee said on Monday it has closed the area until January 20 due to the “recent extreme weather” to ensure the personal safety of tourists, according to a statement from the committee’s official WeChat account.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Stranded tourists airlifted to safety after avalanches hit China
A total 6km of highways were buried in snow, according to CCTV
Beijing — Some tourists stranded for several days after avalanches hit highways leading to a popular winter tourism area in China’s northwest region of Xinjiang were lifted by helicopter to safety, according to local media reports on Sunday.
Days of heavy snow at Altay Prefecture in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region triggered dozens of avalanches on large sections of highways at the Altai Mountains leading to the Kanas scenic area, Chinese state media outlets Xinhua and CCTV News reported on Saturday and Sunday.
A total 6km of highways were buried, according to CCTV.
Altay, known for its ski resorts, is a popular destination for winter tourism. China has experienced a huge boom in winter travel at north and northeastern cities over the past few weeks.
The snow and avalanches blocked many roads leading to Kanas, Hemu, Baihaba and other scenic spots in Burqin County, burying traffic and stranding tourists, Xinhua reported.
The Kanas scenic area management committee released a notice at the weekend saying stranded tourists will be provided accommodation free of charge, Xinhua said.
The crew of an army aviation brigade in Xinjiang loaded fuel, generators, rice, flour, oil, and other materials onto a helicopter and went to Kanas, according to Tianshan Net-Xinjiang Daily.
“After arriving at the point, staff quickly unloaded the supplies, and at the same time, some of the people who were trapped due to the heavy snowfall boarded the plane and were transferred from the Kanas Visitor Centre to Kanas Airport,” the media outlet reported on Sunday.
But after completing the mission, the weather changed abruptly with more wind and snow, suspending additional rescue efforts, the report added.
The Kanas scenic area management committee said on Monday it has closed the area until January 20 due to the “recent extreme weather” to ensure the personal safety of tourists, according to a statement from the committee’s official WeChat account.
Reuters
Survivors of Chinese quake stranded in fierce winter conditions
Freezing temperatures hamper rescue efforts after Chinese quake
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Mountain villages in Pakistan at risk of melting glaciers
Two climbers die in avalanche on Tibetan mountain
Dozens still missing after glacial lake flooding in Himalayas
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.