A massive avalanche occurred in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at 18:09 on Thursday, engulfing the entire valley below in seconds.
The dramatic moment was captured by surveillance cameras in the Oytagh Glacier Park scenic area in Akto County. The video shows an enormous mass of snow cascading down from the summit of Chakragil in the Kunlun Mountains. As the avalanche unfolded, the snow accumulated rapidly, forming a towering "snow wall" tens of meters high and covering the entire valley in less than a minute.
Fortunately, the avalanche occurred in an uninhabited high-altitude area, so no injuries or casualties were reported.
The Chakragil, which is more than 6,000 meters above sea level, is constantly covered with snow. The region had recently experienced heavy snowfall, resulting in a build-up of snow thick enough to trigger the avalanche.
Stunning footage from Xinjiang shows massive avalanche engulfing valley in seconds
Stunning footage from Xinjiang shows massive avalanche engulfs valley in seconds
The multilateral system is "under attack" amid global turmoil, President of the 80th UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock warned in her remarks on Wednesday.
In her briefing on the priorities for the resumed 80th Session of the General Assembly, the UNGA president noted that the current multilateral system does not collapse all in a sudden, but "crumbles piece by piece" in divisions, compromises, and lack of political commitment.
The president called all the UN member states to defend the UN Charter and international law and promote cross-regional cooperation.
She also urged to push forward the work of the UNGA on certain critical issues with a strong majority, rather than an absolute consensus among all member states. Such act is not a failure of multilateralism, but "an affirmation of it," she said.
The foundational principles of the institution should not be eroded by appeasement, she said, calling the member states to show courage, leadership, and responsibility at the UN's "critical make-or-break moment."
"The UN needs you. Your support, your leadership, your principle, stand, your cross-regional cooperation, if we are to preserve and modernize this institution, if we are to make it, rather than break it," she said.
UNGA President warns global multilateral system "under attack"