Published by: World Tibet Network News, 96/03/30

HONG KONG, March 30 (AP) -- At least 56 people died in an avalanche in western China, a Chinese news agency said Friday.

The official China News Service said 54 people were injured in the avalanche Sunday.

Tons of snow fell 990 feet onto highways linking two western Chinese provinces of Sichuan and Tibet.

More than 500 people and over 20 vehicles were buried. It took more than 1,000 police and soldiers and five days to reach them all, the new agency said.