Six people have been killed in an avalanche that occurred Wednesday afternoon in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Friday.

The six victims were part of a rescue team that was on its way to rescue two herdsmen after receiving a call for help. The team consisted of seven local residents of a village in Zanda county of Ngari prefecture, the ministry said in a statement based on the report from Tibet's civil affairs department.

One surviving member of the rescue team is currently in a deep coma.

According to the ministry, information about the avalanche and the rescuers was slow to reach the local civil affairs department due to continuous snow that has disrupted telecommunication services in the village.

The local civil affairs department confirmed that the six victims volunteered to rescue the two herdsmen. Related government departments have sent condolence funds to their relatives.

Additional rescue efforts for the two herdsmen are under way, according to the ministry.

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