4 dead, 6 missing in NW China's avalanche (1/3)

Rescuers walk to the accident site to search for the missing prospecting workers after an avalanche buried the campsite of the Heicigou Antimony Ore Prospecting Station in Subei County, northwest China's Gansu Province, June 7, 2012. The death toll in the avalanche, which occured late Tuesday night, has risen to four, and rescuers are still searching in snow-packed debris for six other missing prospecting workers Thursday morning. The prospecting team is owned by Subei Jinze Mining Co. Ltd.. Heicigou, situated over 4,300 meters above sea level, is located 180 km away from the county seat of Subei, which is a dense Mongolian ethnic area. Since Monday, the area had been hit by heavy rainstorms rarely seen in the local history. By Thursday, snow on ground reached 60 cm deep. Rescuers could only reach the avalanche site on foot. (Xinhua)