Heavy snow and fierce winds hit northwestern China Thursday, creating new challenges for quake survivors and rescuers.

Snow started falling at around 5:05 a.m. in Gyegu Township, epicenter of the 7.1-magnitude quake, in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and had accumulated to a depth of 3 cm by 8 a.m., deputy head of Yushu's meteorological bureau Tsering Tashi said.

Sheltering from the freezing gales, survivors are taking refuge in tents behind the debris of the devastated town.

Although the snow had stopped falling by Thursday afternoon, further falls are forecast over coming days.

"The snow increased the risk of catching cold, which may lead to other deadly diseases given the town lies more than 4,000 meters above sea level," said Qin Rongbin, a medical expert with rescue headquarters.

At least 80 percent of army rescuers from outside the high-altitude region suffered altitude sickness, Qin noted, adding more than 100 suffered pulmonary edema while at least 7 developed cerebral edema.

Pulmonary edema killed 42-year-old electrician Du Jinyu Wednesday morning, rescue headquarters said Thursday. Du had been working diligently to restore Yushu's power supply.

Still, the snowfall did not significantly hamper the ongoing rescue operation, prefecture head Wang Yuhu said.

A local Tibetan resident said the snow made the air feel fresher and cleaner after winds had recently blown earthquake debris and dust throughout the town.

"The snow has had a calming effect after the disaster," he said.

Trucks drivers delivering rescue supplies are driving extra carefully on the snow- and ice-covered roads.

Air traffic to and from Yushu has not been affected, an airport spokesman said.

The 7.1-magnitude earthquake has left 2,183 people dead and 84 missing as of 5 p.m. Wednesday.

The earthquake had also left 12,135 injured, of whom 1,434 are in serious condition. At least 96 of the injured had recovered and left hospitals by Thursday.