BEIJING (Reuters) - A freak blizzard and sand storm killed 15
explorers in mountainous remote northwest China on Friday, the Xinhua
news agency said on Monday.

More than 70 explorers, hired by a company connected to oil giant
China National Petroleum Corp., were working in Haixi prefecture in
Qinghai province, bordering Tibet, when they were hit by a "heavy
snowstorm, rainstorm and sandstorm simultaneously," Xinhua said.
"Fifteen explorers were found dead and 13 others injured in the
snowstorm which was unlikely to happen once in a century," an unnamed
local official was quoted as saying.

Rescue and investigation efforts were continuing, Xinhua said.