3 trapped in Tibet avalanche rescued

NYINGCHI - Three stressed-out hikers who were trapped for nearly two weeks in Yarlung Zangbo River Canyon in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region are likely to receive adequate medication Tuesday, rescuers said.

The three people, who were trapped by an avalanche in the canyon since April 30, were found on Saturday and received emergency treatment.

They were escorted to Nyingchi county Monday night and were on their way to hospital Tuesday.

One of the hikers, Wei Feng from the central Henan province, suffered from a serious infection after a foot injury. Doctors at the emergency rescue headquarters said he needed immediate surgery to save his injured foot from an amputation.

Wei and his friend Sun Huitao entered the canyon on April 19 with five local residents from Mainling county without permission, the county government said.

The avalanche on April 30 left two people dead and two injured.

Sun managed to escape the avalanche, made his way back to the town with a local resident from the group and reported the incident on May 4.

The three people who were left behind survived in a tent, with food for about 10 days. They were stressed but their conditions were not critical when rescuers found them on Saturday.