Avalanche near China gas project buries workers


An avalanche near a gas pipeline project in far western China buried at least 12 workers, with four confirmed dead, state media reports.

The avalanche struck part of the west-to-east natural gas pipeline project in Xinjiang, where the workers were building a tunnel near Huocheng County, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Xinhua said 12 workers were trapped, including four who were later found dead.

But the region's own official news website reported earlier today that 20 were missing and only one confirmed death.

Dozens of rescuers struggled through snow drifts of more than four metres to reach the remote scene, in hill country, the Xinjiang report said.

Largely Muslim Xinjiang endures long, harsh winters, and temperatures at the disaster site were below freezing.

"The rescue work is extremely tough," said Xinhua.

_{Bron: ABC}