Continuous Heavy snow has caused road and communication interruption in some areas of Tibet. [Photo/ CNTV]

Continuous Heavy snow has caused road and communication interruption in some areas of Tibet. [Photo/ CNTV]

Heavy snow has continued to fall in southwestern Tibet's Shigatse and Nagri Prefecture since February 7. Some sections of road are covered with snow over one meter, resulting in property damage, traffic and communication interruption and other damages in some areas. Relevant disaster relief work has been carried out in full swing.

Two days of heavy snowfall has caused no casualties, but 30 houses were damaged, 11 houses were collapsed and the roof of 19 houses has been blown down by strong winds in Gyirong County of Shigatse Prefecture. In addition, snow hit the whole territory of the Nylam County, and the snow depth reach about 15 cm in the county town. The communication optical cable of Zhangmu Port broke off. The section from Nagri to Shigatse of State Highway 219 was buried by the snow, and it has been closed to traffic. At the same time, two towers were blown down by strong winds, causing power failure in some areas of Shigatse.

Contingency plans for disasters were activated immediately. Up to now, roads interrupted by snow in the Saga County of Shigaze Prefecture have been opened again, people stranded on roads have been rescued, and the affected people all have been properly resettled. The rest of roads interrupted are expected to be opened to traffic gradually.

It is learned from the Meteorological Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region that 6-10 degrees temperature drop would happened in the next two days. In the southern areas of Shigatse Prefecture especially, the temperature drop would be up to 10 degrees or more. Continuous snowfall and cold weather will bring certain difficulties to the rescue and relief work, but won't stop it.