iStock [www.istockphoto.com]
Beijing - Authorities in Tibet say nine people were killed in an avalanche in the Himalayan region's far west on Sunday.
Those killed were all residents of the village of Dungru in Ngari prefecture, more than 1 000 kilometres from the regional capital of Lhasa.
China's official Xinhua News Agency says Sunday's tragedy sent snow 8 metres deep crashing down onto the nine people, and also buried 110 yaks and more than 350 sheep. Xinhua says fissures have been seen in glaciers surrounding the region, sparking fears of further avalanches.
The area sits in Tibet's remote north-west, an area of farms and pastures at an average elevation of 4 500 meters.
