7 missing, 14 trapped in Xinjiang blizzard

URUMQI: Seven people are missing and 14 others are trapped in a blizzard in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, local authorities said on Thursday.

A group of 23 people were overtaken by a snowstorm on January 13 when they were trying to retreat from Halahate, a remote mountainous area in Altay Region in northern Xinjiang, the emergency response office of Xinjiang said in a press release.

Only two managed to reach the destination of Zuhalagai, also in Altay, with serious frostbite.

They reported to the government of Altay that seven members of their party were missing and 14 others were trapped on the way. The date of the report was not stated.

The autonomous regional government sent two helicopters Thursday noon to search for the rest of the group.

Up to 2 meters of snow has fallen in Halahate and Zuhalagai, about 120 kilometers from downtown Altay, cutting ground access to the areas.

It was reported that a woman was among the missing and the trapped were in great need of food and daily supplies.

Blizzards and extreme cold since late December have disrupted transport, seriously threatened livestock and affected daily life in Xinjiang.

The latest cold snap in northern Xinjiang that sent the temperature to minus 45.7 degrees Celsius in Fuyun County has left at least four people dead and more than 600 injured in the whole region, incurring huge economic losses.

Xinjiang governments at all levels are trying to transport feed to Altay and Tacheng, where livestock have eaten half of the forage in stock.

Source: China Daily.
Link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-01/21/content_9357855.htm.