Nine killed in avalanche in Tibet

Nine persons have been killed along with hundreds of yaks and sheep after an avalanche hit southwest Tibet,officials said on Monday.

The residents were of Dungru Village in Rutog County, Ngari Prefecture, more than 1,000 km from the Himalayan region's capital Lhasa.

According to the prefectural government of the Tibet Autonomous Region, more than 350 sheep and 110 yaks were also buried in Sunday's avalanche that shifted snow up to eight meters deep on to grazing land.

Cracks have since appeared on the surrounding glaciers, and rescuers are concerned that more avalanches may occur, according to local officials.

The officials confirmed the deaths without giving additional details.

Rutog County is in the northwest of Tibet, with an average elevation of 4,500 meters (about 14,800 feet).

Rising global temperatures are blamed for speeding the melting of glaciers in Tibet.

China is also grappling with floods and landslides.

At least 83 people have been killed and 19 others are still missing after typhoon Nepartak struck east China's Fujian Province last week, taking the death toll in recent rains and floods in the country to 309.