Mudflows trap thousands on China-Pakistan highway

URUMQI - Mud-rock flows triggered by continuous rain and thawing snow blocked parts of the China-Pakistan highway on Monday, stranding more than 300 vehicles and several thousand people.

The stranded vehicles were lined up for at least 3.5 kilometers at 5 pm Monday on a steep mountain road in Akto County of the Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture of Kizilsu in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Among the stranded passengers were Chinese and international tourists from Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kirgizstan, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Soldiers from the local armed police were mobilized to clean the road of debris.

As of 7 pm, the road had been cleared and traffic was moving again.

China-Pakistan Highway is a pivotal route connecting China with Tajikistan and Pakistan.