In China’s Xinjiang region, Hemu village faces a critical situation with around 1,000 tourists trapped.
Hemu village is a remote holiday spot renowned for its natural beauty. It is located at the juncture of Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia within Xinjiang’s Altay Prefecture. The village is now isolated due to continuous snowfall that lasted up to 10 days in some areas, resulting in blocked road access for several days.
Significant avalanches in the Altay mountains have caused numerous landslides, disrupting routes to the Kanas scenic area. Over the weekend, helicopters managed to airlift some tourists to safety. The depth of the snow, reaching up to seven metres in places, poses a formidable challenge for snow-clearing equipment.
Efforts to clear a 50-km stretch of the road, buried under snow, commenced a week ago. However, rocks, debris, and tree branches in the snow have rendered traditional methods like rotary snowploughs ineffective. Rescuers are now resorting to shovels and excavators.
The unpredictable mountain weather adds complexity to the rescue and relief efforts, limiting opportunities for essential supply missions. A military helicopter delivering vital supplies such as flour and fuel to the village faced delays. The Altay highway management authorities have mobilized 53 personnel and 31 machinery units for rescue and relief operations.
