Travelers led to safety after avalanches in Xinjiang's Kanas scenic area

Avalanches have shut roads and led to the closure of the Kanas scenic area in Altay prefecture of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region until Jan 20. Avalanches are continuing to occur in some areas, the Kanas management committee said on Monday.

A prolonged snowstorm recently resulted in multiple avalanches along a provincial highway in Burqin county, blocking access to the renowned scenic area. Numerous travelers were stranded, prompting local authorities to find ways to accommodate those affected.

"I've booked a homestay that costs 1,880 yuan ($260) per night, but the accommodation has been free these last several days," said a stranded tourist from Beijing surnamed Chen who had gone skiing in Hemu village.

Jikepulin, a ski resort there, has offered free skiing to stranded tourists, and those who have purchased tickets in advance can be refunded.

"Renting skis is free now. The gate is open, if you bring skis, just go up to slide down," said Chen.

The management committee of the Kanas scenic area issued a statement on Saturday, saying it will provide free accommodation and meals while the roads are closed. Hotels in villages in Hanas, Hemu and Baihaba are offering complimentary rooms, and free dining services are available at designated locations.

On Monday morning, traffic police in the Kanas scenic area revealed that since Jan 10, there have been more than 110 avalanches on the roads.

As of 1 pm on Sunday, 10 km of the road to Jiadengyu had been reopened, and 27 tourists and more than 80 staff stranded in Jiadengyu safely left the mountain guided by traffic police.

According to Xinhua News Agency, as of 1 pm on Sunday, the local government had safely evacuated 287 people from the villages of Baihaba and Hanas to nearby Habahe county. Power and communication in Hemu village are functioning normally, and residents, along with more than 1,200 stranded tourists, have ample supplies.

Some 7.8 metric tons of groceries and 1.8 tons of meat, as well as fuel and medical supplies have been sent to Kanas as of 4 pm on Sunday, the regional government said.

"My cellphone had no signal yesterday. I did not expect a policeman with a satellite phone to find me so I could tell my family that I was safe," said Dang Xueqi, a tourist from Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

"I know there are still many people working hard to help us," she said.

According to the meteorological bureau of Xinjiang, the region had experienced its longest continuous snowfall of the year, primarily affecting Altay and Tacheng prefectures.

Zhang Bing, deputy director of the scenic area's management committee, explained that the mountainous region typically experiences heavy snowfall in winter, leading to road blockages caused by avalanches.

During the recent storm, local authorities organized snow-clearing operations and created a single lane for traffic on Jan 10. Vehicles were escorted by traffic police, however, subsequent avalanches once again obstructed the road, he said.