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Heavy snowfall hits large areas of China
By Wang Zhenghua (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-07 06:20
A northern cold spell gripped much of northern and eastern China yesterday,
as local authorities issued severe weather warnings and launched emergency plans
to ensure safe transportation in the snow.
A woman plays in
the snow in Beijing February 6, 2006.
[Xinhua] | The cold front, which brought snow
showers mainly to Henan, Anhui, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, engulfed Beijing,
Tianjin, Hebei and Liaoning provinces, putting pressure on the post-Spring
Festival travel rush.
The bad weather has caused disruptions on roads, trains and airports.
Several highways surrounding Beijing were closed yesterday.
Delays and cancellations of flights at several airports meant many commuters
were unable to return to work after the week-long holiday.
"At least four flights of the China Eastern Airlines were delayed because of
the snow," said a clerk with the airport in Lanzhou, capital of Northwest
China's Gansu Province.
In Shenyang, capital of Northeast China's Liaoning Province, the airport was
forced to shut down yesterday morning and reopened later in the day.
No major incidents of stranded passengers at railway stations were reported.
Local authorities issued warnings against the severe weather while taking
steps to ensure safe travel.
Rail conditions in Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan Province, have
returned to normal after the station launched an emergency plan on Sunday in
response to the heavy snow, and evacuated tens of thousands of passengers.
The meteorological department forecasts that the cold front will continue to
bring snow and wind to most of northern and eastern China.
The seas in the east and south may also be hit with high winds.
(China Daily 02/07/2006 page2)
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