Avalanches Strand 1,000 Tourists in Remote China Village

Post by : Dr. Amrinder Pal Singh

In the remote holiday village of Hemu, situated in the northwestern Xinjiang region of China, approximately 1,000 tourists are facing a critical situation due to a series of avalanches. This picturesque village, located near the borders of Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia, has been isolated from road access for several days as a result of avalanches triggered by heavy snowfall persisting for the past 10 days in Xinjiang's Altay Prefecture.

The Altay mountains, leading to the Kanas scenic area, have witnessed dozens of avalanches, creating significant challenges for rescue and evacuation efforts. Some tourists have been airlifted to safety by helicopters, but the situation remains dire for those still present in the village. The snow brought by the avalanches has reached alarming heights, with some areas experiencing snow accumulation of up to seven meters, surpassing the capacity of snow clearing equipment.

Efforts to clear the buried 50-kilometer stretch of road started a week ago, but progress has been hampered by the unique characteristics of this avalanche situation. The snow is mixed with rocks, debris, and tree branches, making rotary snowplow vehicles ineffective. Rescuers are now employing shovels and excavators to navigate through the challenging terrain.

Complicating matters further is the unpredictable weather in the mountainous region. Rapid changes in weather conditions have narrowed the windows for supply missions, causing delays in critical deliveries. A military helicopter scheduled to transport essential supplies, including flour and fuel, to Hemu village faced delays on Tuesday morning.

The Altay highway management authorities have mobilized 53 personnel and 31 sets of machinery and equipment to conduct rescue and relief operations. Zhao Jinsheng, the head of the highway management bureau, highlighted the uniqueness of this avalanche situation, citing the unprecedented frequency of avalanches despite previous heavy snowfall experiences. He anticipates that the extensive volume of snow on the last four kilometers of the affected road will prolong the snow clearing efforts required to restore access to Hemu village. The situation remains challenging, requiring coordinated and sustained efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of the tourists affected.