The death toll from snow avalanches in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region had risen to seven by Thursday as military helicopters rescue the trapped, local officials said in a statement.

A total of seven deaths have been reported in northern Xinjiang's Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture and southern Xinjiang's Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, while hundreds of others are still trapped.

At least two people were killed and 276 trapped by the avalanches in Kunes Town, Hejing County, Bayingolin, the statement said.

Military helicopters stationed in Xinjiang took off around midday Thursday to rescue those trapped.

Heavy snow, poor roads and unreliable communications in the avalanche-stricken areas have been challenges for rescuers.

Xinjiang has been experiencing the heaviest snow and coldest temperatures in decades this winter. The public has been warned that due to large amount of accumulated snow, the warmer temperatures in Spring may bring severe floods and avalanches to the region.