Summer snowstorm kills nearly 500 livestock animals, strands 400 tourists in Xinjiang, China

An unexpected summer snowstorm hit Xinjiang, China, on June 29, 2020, resulting in traffic disruption, more than 400 tourists stranded, and deaths of nearly 500 livestock.

Herdsmen in Tekes County in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have suffered heavy losses after the blizzard caused 494 livestock animals to freeze to death, most of which were sheep.

According to CCTV News Agency, the losses have reached nearly 141 300 dollars or 1 million yuan.

The local government promptly activated emergency plans and ordered officials to assist affected herdsmen in relocating their livestock.

In Nilka County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, heavy snow disrupted traffic.

More than 400 tourists and 130 vehicles were left stranded either in the Tangbra Mountain or on the Dushanzi-Kuche Highway, which runs through the Tianshan Mountain.

China is currently in a grip of natural disasters– more than one million have been affected by severe flooding in Hubei, as of July 1.

A massive sandstorm hit the city of Hotan on June 30, while Yichang recorded its heaviest rainfall in 20 years on the same day.

Julie Celestial

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