Tourists trapped in a remote skiing area in China are being evacuated after heavy snow caused multiple avalanches.
Over 1,000 people have been stuck for a week in Altay prefecture, near China’s border with Mongolia, Russia, and Kazakhstan.
The avalanches blocked roads, leaving tourists and locals stranded in a village. Injured people were airlifted out by military helicopter, while food and fuel supplies were flown in.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that a snow-blocked road linking Hemu village to major roads was cleared on Tuesday. This allowed vehicles to enter and tourists to drive themselves out.
Footage showed tourists dragging their luggage towards a military helicopter over snowy areas. A long line of cars was seen on the cleared road, ready to leave the area.
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The local highway administration said the avalanches affected 350 kilometres (220 miles) of roads.
Clearing efforts were slowed down due to the area’s geography, as roads leading to Hemu are located in a valley with tree-covered slopes.
Altay prefecture, known as an emerging ski destination, has been hit by heavy snowfall since early January.
The Xinjiang meteorological bureau reported at least 31 avalanches as of Saturday.
The Kanas scenic area, home to Hemu village, will be shut until at least January 20 due to ongoing severe weather, officials have announced.
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