406 passengers evacuated in Xinjiang blizzard

URUMQI - Rescuers evacuated 406 passengers to safety after they were trapped in a blizzard in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, a local official said Monday.

The passengers and the 68 vehicles they rode in were left stranded in Maytas, Tacheng, by the blizzard with maximum wind of up to 90 km per hour on Sunday, said Li Jiancheng, an official with the Tacheng Highways Bureau.

It took rescuers 13 hours to evacuate the trapped people and move their vehicles to safe areas early Monday, said Li. The section of the highway has been shut down.

Maytas is known for strong gales and blizzards, which often leave passengers stranded and force the closure of local highways.