Nine Herders Killed In Avalanche In Tibet | Avalanche Caused By Rising Global Temperatures
Ngari Prefecture, Tibet – On Sunday, July 17, 2016 an avalanche that plummeted down onto grazing lands in Rutog County in the Ngari prefecture of Tibet killed 9 people, 110 yaks, and 350 sheep.
The avalanche victims were all residents of Dungru village in Ngari prefecture in Tibet. They live in an area filled with farms and pastures at an average elevation of 4500 meters (15,000 feet).
According to ABCNews, the the avalanche “sent snow 8 meters (26 feet) deep.” More cracks have appeared in the surrounding glaciers since the avalanche on Sunday and more avalanches in the area are possible. Several houses have now been evacuated (IBTimes.com).
It is believed that the cause of the avalanche is rising global temperatures that has lead to rapidly melting glaciers.
UPDATE: ECNS.cn writes that the avalanche “covered an area eight kilometers long, five kilometers wide, and averaged 20 meters deep.” Photos are available on that page. English.cri.cn notes that “the icefall took place between glaciers on two snow-capped mountains at an altitude above 6,000 meters. The volume of the icefall was estimated at 600 million cubic meters.” Rescuers continue to search the area.
We will try to update this post if more information becomes available.
