China Races to Evacuate 1,000 Stranded Tourists Trapped by Cascade of Avalanches
Gansu – A massive evacuation operation is underway to rescue over 1,000 tourists who have been trapped for a week by relentless avalanches in a remote Chinese mountain town. According to state media, emergency crews are working urgently to evacuate vacationers stuck in Longxi town in Gansu province after roads were buried by nonstop snow slides that cut off all access.
Nearly 10,000 residents and visitors have been immobilized since January 17th when the first of hundreds of avalanches began crashing down, triggered by the most severe blizzard in decades. At the same time, locals are accustomed to winter isolation, anxiety mounts for tourists descending on the scenic ski town ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations. With supplies depleted and conditions deteriorating, many are desperately awaiting rescue.
Despite bulldozing through blocked roads, evacuating vacationers stranded in hotels, guesthouses and even their vehicles remains a slow, dangerous process as aftershocks continue spilling down mountainsides.
As crews bravely transport shivering, hungry tourists to safety along icy paths, the exceptional circumstances may make some travellers reconsider thrill-seeking in extremely remote destinations prone to unpredictable forces of nature.
However, the massive mobilization demonstrates China’s commitment to averting disaster through sheer manpower and resources. Leveraging vast experience responding to seismic events, crews work around the clock to reunite families and escape the continuing blizzard’s grip.
