According to the news in Reuters, about a thousand tourists in the region were stranded in the village as a result of the avalanche. It was stated that continuous snowfall was effective in the region for 10 days. It was stated that evacuation became difficult due to unfavorable weather conditions.
Heavy snowfall caused dozens of avalanches on wide sections of highways leading to the Kanas scenic area in the Altai mountains, and some tourists were taken to safety by helicopter.
Rescue work continues
In rescue and snow removal operations, rotary snow removal vehicles were rendered unusable due to heavy snow. Rescuers resorted to shovels and excavators.
Highway management officials in Altai said they had organized 53 personnel and 31 sets of machinery and equipment for rescue and relief work.
Zhao Jinsheng, head of the highway management bureau, said in a statement, "This avalanche situation is unusual. We have seen such heavy snowfall before, but we have not seen avalanches so often," Zhao Jinsheng, head of the highway management bureau, said in a statement.
Zhao said he expected snow removal work to continue for some time to restore access to Hemu village due to the large amount of snow on the last four kilometers of the avalanche-affected road.
