BEIJING: Around 1,000 tourists find themselves marooned in the picturesque Hemu village of China’s Xinjiang region after severe avalanches disrupted road access to the remote holiday destination.
Hemu, located near the borders of Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia, has been cut off by avalanches for several days, leaving tourists stranded.
The region, part of Xinjiang’s Altay Prefecture, has experienced continuous heavy snowfall for the past 10 days, triggering dozens of avalanches along major highways leading to popular areas like Kanas.
The snow brought by the avalanches reached heights of up to 7 meters in some sections, making it challenging for snow clearing equipment to operate effectively.
Rescue efforts have been complicated by rocks, debris, and tree branches mixed in the snow, rendering traditional snowplough vehicles ineffective. Rescue teams are employing shovels and excavators to clear the 50km stretch of buried road.
The Altay highway management authorities have organized a team of 53 personnel and deployed 31 sets of machinery and equipment to facilitate rescue and relief efforts. However, the avalanche situation is described as “relatively special,” with an unusually high frequency of avalanches despite previous heavy snowfall.
Weather conditions in the mountainous region are proving unpredictable, with rapidly changing conditions limiting the windows for supply missions. A military helicopter scheduled to deliver essential supplies to Hemu village, including flour and fuel, faced delays on January 16.
The rescue and snow clearing work is expected to continue for some time, especially on the last 4km of road affected by the avalanche. The situation emphasizes the challenges posed by the fickle mountain weather and the need for coordinated efforts to ensure the safety and evacuation of the stranded tourists.
