2008 China Snowstorm
From ChinaTravelGuide
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[edit] Today's update
- Feb. 17: Southwest China (西南)'s Yunnan (云南) province was hit hard by snow again on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008. About 14,000 km of highways in the southwestern part of Yunnan and more than 12,000 passengers were affected on Sunday alone. Some of the stranded drivers and passengers affected on Sunday's storm have been transferred to government-provided shelters or homes of residents along the highways. From late January to Saturday (Feb. 16, 2008), the snow storm has left about 178,000 people and 20,000 motor vehicles stranded. [1].
- Feb. 15: Per China's CCTV, China has restored its transport systems. Railway, road, air and ship travel are all back to normal, and no passengers are stranded in the main terminals. The country is bracing for another travel peak with the end of the Spring Festival (春节). China has added additional trains, and has stepped up the efforts to guarantee basic supplies in the needed areas.
- Feb. 12: Per weather forecast, in the next three days the weather in southern part of China will improve, while most part of Southwest China (西南) will continue to see cloudy, rainy, and snowy weather. South China (华南), especially the area close to the South China Sea, will be affected by strong winds. [2].
- Feb. 9: Per weather forecast, in the next several days most part of Northern China (North China (华北), Northwest China (西北), and Northeast China (东北)) will be hit by cold air, and the temperature will drop sharply. Southwest China (西南), especially most part of Guizhou (贵州) will continue to see overcast weather with freezing rain and snow [3].
- As of 12pm noon time of Feb. 5 (China Local Time), all trains originating from Guangzhou have resumed their regular schedules. The transportation of Jingguang railway line (京广铁路) (from Beijing to Guangzhou) has been restored to the normal condition [4].
- As of Feb. 5, large areas of Chenzhou (郴州) of Hunan Province, the city incurred the worst damage, still does not have electricity [5].
- After three clear days, rain and snow storms hit Jianxi (江西) province again on Feb. 05. However, it's estimated that the electricity supply will be resumed in the morning of Feb. 6. [6].
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[edit] Worst snowstorm in 50 years
The snow storm weather in China now enters its fourth week since it began on Jan. 10, and has became China's worst winter weather in half a century. It has stranded over 5.8 million people [7] just before the Lunar New Year, which begins on Feb 7 this year. Chinese new year is China's biggest holiday, and many Chinese people take weeks off to celebrate the Spring Festival (春节). It's just as important in China as Christmas in the West. For many Chinese who migrate from the countryside to cities to work in factories, the holiday is the only time during the year that they return to their hometowns.
[edit] Worst yet to come
The snow has destroyed large areas of crops, toppled power lines and disrupted trains and trucking lines in Central (华中), Southern (华南) and East China (华东). On Feb. 2, China warns that "The most difficult period is still not over yet. The situation remains grim," quoting to the cabinet's summary of an emergency meeting to coordinate relief efforts. Weather forecast predicts that more snow, sleet, and heavy wind will hit central and eastern provinces soon. This will certainly doom the hopes of many people desperate to see their families during their only break of the year.
[edit] Railways, airports closed
The snow has blacked out many cities in Hunan (湖南), Guizhou (贵州), and Hubei (湖北). Many trains traveling between major Southern, and Central China cities, such as Guangzhou (广州), Hangzhou (杭州)|Hangzhou, Changsha (长沙), have been delayed or canceled as a result of power failure.
The snows also starts to hit eastern part of China, mainly Jiangsu (江苏), Zhejiang (浙江), Anhui (安徽), and Shanghai (上海). The heaviest snow since 1984 in Jiangsu (江苏) province virtually closed the airport of Nanjing (南京) on last Sunday. Shanghai is now blanked in white snow (Feb. 1st, 2008) while the neighboring provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang issued alerts for blizzards and icy roads.
As of Feb. 3 (China Local Time), 26 trains between Beijing (北京), Shanghai (上海), Guangzhou (广州) and Kunming (昆明) stopped running shortly after the lines were reopened. Over 2000 long distance buses in Shanghai alone were canceled [8].
Hangzhou Airport (杭州萧山机场) is now closed [9] as of Feb.2 noon China Local Time.
Shanghai Port (上海港) [10] will be closed starting from 1 am Feb. 2. Over one thousand ships have dropped their anchors.
On Feb. 1 alone, 216 flights were delayed and 19 flights were canceled in Shanghai (上海)'s two airports, Pudong International Airport (浦东国际机场) and Hongqiao International Airport (虹桥机场) [11].
As of Feb. 2 (local time), over 3000 vehicles are stranded on HungZhao Freeway (衡枣高速) from Hunan (湖南) to Guangdong (广东) and Guangxi (广西) [12].
[edit] Current damages
According to Zou Ming, deputy director of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, some 223,000 houses collapsed under snow and ice, 1.8 million people were evacuated to shelters, and 18 million acres of crops were destroyed.
Some remote areas in Guizhou (贵州) are starting to run out of food, water, and medical supplies.
China's Shanghai Composite Index has dropped over 26% since Jan. 10 when the snow started, as investors sold airlines, railways and shipping companies on expectations the weather will sap their earnings.
[edit] The country's worst power crisis
China's largely coal-powered power grid collapsed in Central, Southern China area, plunging many cities into darkness. Dozens of factories were closed, with mining and metals companies suffering from severe power shortages.
The railway lines were crippled, and numerous trains were delayed or canceled.
[edit] Government effort
State-run media reported that authorities had declared an "all out war" on the crisis. Over 1.1 million soldiers and army reserves have been mobilized for relief work across China's south. Utility workers struggled to restore power to blacked-out cities.
The freak storms are especially painful because they hit warmer parts of China that have little experience with snow. Many communities lack necessary equipment to handle the heavy snowfall.
[edit] Price surges
Disruption in shipping has caused prices of meat and vegetables in some areas to double or triple over the past two weeks, according to news reports.
[edit] Hardest-hit areas
[edit] Hunan (湖南) Province
39 cities and counties have been hit hard by the blizzards. Among the hardest-hits are
- Chenzhou (郴州) , a city of 1.2 million people in Hunan (湖南) province, enters its ninth day without power or water [13]. Food supplies are also running low.
- Hengyang (衡阳)
- Yongzhou (永州)
- Changsha (长沙)
- Xiangtan (湘潭)
- Zhuzhou (株洲)
- Loudi (娄底)
[edit] Guizhou (贵州) province
Blood bank running low in Guizhou (贵州). [14] 600,000 Emergency-use candles were delivered to Guizhou (贵州) by air [15]
[edit] Anhui (安徽) province
[edit] Guangdong (广东) province
Migrant workers trying to leave booming southern Guangdong (广东) province were the most severely affected by the transportation woes. The area is called the world's factory floor because it makes everything from Honda sedans to Apple iPods and Nike sneakers.
[edit] Notes
The Taklamakan (塔克拉玛干沙漠) in Xinjiang (新疆), China's biggest desert, has experienced its biggest snowfall and lowest temperature after 11 consecutive days of snow, local meteorologists [16] said yesterday.
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