At least three people were confirmed dead and another six still trapped underground after an avalanche covered an iron mine Tuesday afternoon in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, local work safety official said Wednesday.

Around 5:00 PM Tuesday, an avalanche buried Songhu iron mine in Nilka County of Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture. When it hit, 13 people were working at or near the mine. By 5:00 PM Wednesday, three bodies were retrieved and four people, who had been working above ground, were found unharmed and evacuated, according to head of the county's work safety department, surnamed Tan.

Six people were still trapped underground.

As the avalanche covered a large area two meters thick with snow, rescuers had not yet reached the mine, said Tan.

In related developments, avalanches have also hit several areas in Kunesgol township of Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture of Bayingolin in Xinjiang since Sunday, according to local government.

By 4:00 PM Wednesday, at least one person was confirmed dead and another was missing in avalanches, which had trapped 460 herdsmen and 22,257 heads of livestock. The avalanches also had killed 588 heads of livestock. Rescue efforts were continuing.

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2010)