Relief supplies rushed to freeze-hit S China

BEIJING - China's central government on Thursday sent vital relief supplies to the country's southern region recently swept by freezing weather.

A total of 2,000 tents, 40,000 quilts and 40,000 cotton coats have been dispatched to the provinces of Jiangxi, Hunan and Guizhou as well as Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said a statement from the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The ministry also promised to arrange another sum of relief funds from the central treasury to take care of people affected by the cold snap.

In early December, the central government handed out 5.44 billion yuan ($863 million) to cope with the continuing cold weather.

Four inspection teams have been sent to the affected regions to supervise the distribution of relief funds, the statement added.

In Guizhou alone, persistent cold weather has left about 379,000 people in a state of disaster, local authorities said on Wednesday.

Lingering cold along with freezing rain and snowfall have left 17 counties in the southwest China province in a state of disaster and forced local governments to relocate over 4,470 people, according to the provincial civil affairs authorities.

The National Meteorological Center said in a Tuesday statement that southern China will continue to experience snow, rain and freezing temperatures for the next few days.

The center said the severe weather will intensify from January 8, with blizzards in western regions along the Yangtze and Huaihe rivers, as well as the northern part of south China.