The death toll from an avalanche that hit a road in the mountains of Tibet (southwest China) this week has risen to 20 dead and eight missing, state television reported on Friday (January 20th).
The tragedy occurred Tuesday evening at the exit of a tunnel on a highway in the south-east of the region, trapping motorists in their vehicles.
Rescue operations still ongoing
“
Rescue operations are still ongoing
,” CCTV television said on Friday, quoting local authorities in Nyingchi town.
China's Ministry of Emergency Management sent a response team to Tibet on Wednesday and called for large-scale rescue efforts.
Read alsoHaute-Savoie: a dozen people swept away by an avalanche
Avalanches are not uncommon in the Himalayas.
In October, at least 26 people were killed in an avalanche on Mount Draupadi ka Danda-II in India's northern state of Uttarakhand.
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