China: Three Tourists Die at Great Wall During Blizzard

By Larry Habegger and Laurie Weed | Permalink |

No Comments | November 7th, 2012 | Trackback

A blizzard took Beijing by surprise Nov. 4, dumping the heaviest snowfall the city has seen since 1951 and killing three elderly tourists who became trapped at the Great Wall of China. The three Japanese nationals who died were part of a small group touring an unrestored section of the Wall in Huailai province when the storm hit. One of their Chinese guides walked out to get help, and the rest of the group was rescued in time. Authorities issued a public emergency alert early in the day, but not before 1,000 vehicles were stranded on the road and at least two dozen flights were cancelled or delayed at the international airport. Normal flight schedules resumed quickly, but road clearance was expected to take several days.