Xinjiang desert rescue ongoing

Xinjiang desert rescue ongoing

• Source: Global Times
• [09:42 March 08 2011]
• Comments

By Zhang Hui

Rescue teams finally reached seven mem-bers of a Beijing off-roading club last night who were trapped for four days in Ruoq-iang county, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, after the teams dispatched by the local government had failed to reach them two nights before.

"Rescuers finally found the stranded group at 9:05 pm last night, and deliv-ered food and medical supplies," said Han Songjiang, spokesman for the Ruoqiang county government, told the Global Times Monday.

According to Han, the 14 rescuers and the off-road team members will attempt to wade through the surrounding swamps to-gether this morning.

The Xiakexing off-road club planned to drive across the Taklamakan Desert, the world's 17th largest desert, this Febuary. Seven of its members, five male and two fe-male, started their adventure in four SUVs Feburary 10 on the Tazhong expressway in Xinjiang.

"Snowmelt created a flash flood on the Qiemo River, which blocked them down-stream," Han explained.

After being stuck for three days with no food or water on a small piece of dry land between Kanglake lake and the flooded river, one of the members placed a distress call to the Ruoqiang government officials at 5 pm Sunday with a satellite phone, explain-ing they had abandoned three SUVs that had broken down, Han said.

The government confirmed their loca-tion and dispatched a motorcycle rescue team carrying medical supplies and food on Sunday night.

However, the rescue attempt was halt-ed at 9:45 pm, 100 kilometers from the trapped off-roaders, due to the flooded river and low visibility at night.

The rescue team then retreated after learning the seven members were all in good health.

The government launched another res-cue Monday morning, which sent out eight motorcycles at 8 am.

Han explained the rescue team has reached the Kanglake lake area before noon after making their way through many fresh marshes created by the flash flood.

The Ruoqiang government receives re-ports of people stranded in the Taklamakan Desert at least once every year, and in most cases they become trapped due to flash floods or sudden sandstorms, Han said.

The government suggests that trekking teams contact the local government before heading out for the latest weather forecast.