Xinhua reported that 2 helicopters were sent Friday morning to rescue the hundreds of people who were trapped by two deadly avalanches in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

The recent two avalanches in Xinjiang have killed at least seven people and trapped more than 400 others as rescuers found more people being caught in snow Thursday.

A spokesman for the headquarters said the helicopters took off at 10:30 a.m, with missions to air drop food, medicine, equipment of communications and to rescue the 129 trapped in Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, including 29 reported to have been trapped in an iron mine in Nilka county.

The rescue headquarters Thursday sent a helicopter that reached a coal mine in a small valley 20 km from the avalanche in Ili Kazak, where more than 100 workers were trapped. The aircraft, which could not locate a landing spot, left after dropping some food and a satellite phone

The iron mine called Songhu produces 1 million tonnes of iron ores annually. It is adjacent to the Hejing county's Kunes township in Bayingolin.

Xinjiang has been experiencing the heaviest snow and coldest temperatures in decades this winter. The public has been warned that due to large amount of accumulated snow, the warmer temperatures in spring may bring severe floods and avalanches to the region.

(Sourced from Xinhua)