Guizhou freeze affects 570,000 people

GUIYANG - Over 570,000 people have been affected in the continuing freezing weather in southwest China's Guizhou Province, said local authorities on Friday.

A new round of freezing rain and snow has fallen on most parts of Guizhou. Local governments have relocated over 5,000 people in 24 counties to avoid possible risks, said provincial civil affairs authorities.

Lingering cold along with freezing rain and snow have caused to the province direct economic losses estimated at over 77.76 million yuan (about 12.51 million U.S. dollars), mostly coming from agricultural fields.

The sub-zero temperatures have also caused tap water pipelines to freeze and burst in Guizhou's Weining County, a phenomenon which has affected water supply to over 5,000 households, said Chu Yong, deputy manager of the county tap water company.

As of Friday, the county's tap water supply has been resumed after emergency repairs.

Local governments have set up 68 rescue stations to offer relief goods including food and clothes to people in need.

The National Meteorological Center forecast on Thursday that snow and rain would continue to sweep south China over the following three days.

From Thursday to Saturday, light to moderate snow or sleet will affect the provinces of Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan and Yunnan, as well as parts of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and northeast China, the center said.