Heavy snowstorms battered parts of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Saturday, disrupting road traffic and prompting swift emergency responses from local authorities to ensure public safety.
Starting early Saturday, heavy snow blanketed the Kanas scenic area in Altay Prefecture, northern Xinjiang, covering houses, roads, and infrastructure. Local traffic police responded by managing vehicles at key intersections and using patrol vehicles to escort tourists out of the area safely.
Due to hazardous conditions, traffic control measures were imposed from 15:00 on roads leading to the scenic area.
Blizzards also struck the region's Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. On the Guozigou expressway section of northwestern Xinjiang, snowfall had persisted since Friday evening, covering roads with a thick layer of snow.
Meanwhile, strong winds stirred blowing snow, drastically reducing visibility. This saw road maintenance crews working tirelessly to clear the snow and maintain safe passage.
On roads severely affected by blowing snow, visibility dropped to less than 50 meters, and surfaces turned dangerously slippery. Police employed flashing lights to direct vehicles to safety and assisted in rescuing stranded ones.
As of 20:00 on Saturday, heavy snowfall persisted, leading to temporary restrictions on large trucks traveling between Ili and Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang.
Heavy snowfall blankets parts of Xinjiang, disrupting traffic in key areas
