LHASA -- An avalanche in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Sunday morning buried nine people, local authorities said.

Snow up to eight meters deep fell on a grazing point some 300 km from the seat of Rutog County, Ngari Prefecture, at around 11 a.m., according to the prefectural government.

The local government has dispatched rescuers and equipment to the scene.

Rutog County is in the northwestern part of Tibet, with an average elevation of 4,500 meters (about 14,800 feet).