(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-01-29 13:24

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has rushed to Hunan to help direct disaster relief work in the central Chinese province, which has been hit by appalling weather.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L3) discusses with other government officials about disaster relief on the plane, January 28, 2008. [Xinhua]

Wen flew out of Beijing on Monday night, but had to land at Tianhe Airport in neighboring Hubei Province because of the bad weather in Hunan, before completing his journey by train. He arrived in Changsha city, Hunan's capital, on Tuesday morning.

After his arrival, he immediately held meetings with Hunan officials and officials from departments under the State Council on how to combat ice and snow and how to better direct disaster relief work.

Since January 13, Hunan Province has suffered unprecedented cold, with the highest snow falls since 1954.