Chinese Lives

Since the begining of January, mid-China and south-China has been trapped in heavy snowing weather, which was acclaimed by official weather station as unusual in 50 years. According to weather forcast, snowing icing weather will last in next few days, which may shock the nation if it snowed out of control just in 10 days before our traditional Spring New Year.

The worst affected people were travellers. Sources said a train heading from Guangdong to Hunan were trapped in the middle of journey due to frozen railroad, lack of electric power related to collaped electricity post, whose on board passengers lack food, sleep, clean toilet and constant communication with family.

Frozen highway slowed traffic down to crawling speed, and even caused multi-vehicle crash accident. Sources said in Jiangxi 16 driving vehicle crashed including a police car and several other massive vans, a child was killed in the crash and a few people dropped through gap when they tried to run away to the opposite in the dark.

Meanwhile, higher pricing on vegetable hit city residents. Necessity vegetables such as Chinese lettuce rose 5 times and rice price rose nearly 10 times in some places. Supermarkets had panic customers empty grocery shelves. Old people were suggest stay home in order not to fall injured when walk outside.

It puts the government accountablity on test at this moment, since Spring New Year is equally the most important moments for every Chinese. At present 5 provinces are in heavy snow weather for continuously 2 weeks, which have many cases of power cut and water supply cut due to the unprepared icy condition.

Disastrous snow weather hit Hubei and adjacent provinces in China from 11th this month to today。Hubei weather forcast station say average snow amount in a week is about 10-20mm. In 69 provincial cities and counties, snow coverage is about 10 centimeters, while in a few higher land area, there may be over 30 centimeters snow.

The mid-south area is issued red code warning regarding heavy snow cold weather. From 18th, after motorway and cross-river motor way became frozen, most major intercity motorways have been closed, which will add more pressure to rail transport in the pre New Year critical period.

Though snow is beautiful natural scenery to appreciate, people in agricultural regions with less convenient communication and living supplies were badly hit. They could lose half a year’s income if their outdoor crops, vegetable plants, and chicken nests collaps against severe weather.