Freezing weather in south China to continue
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China's meteorological authorities said Tuesday freezing weather and icy rain will continue to hit south China over the next three days, adding to the region's transport misery.
The National Meteorological Center (NMC) Tuesday kept its yellow alert for freezing temperatures in south China, including for the provinces of Guizhou, Yunnan, Hunan and Jiangxi, and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Meanwhile, central and western parts of Guizhou Province and some parts of Hunan Province will also be hit by icy rain over the next three days, the NMC said in a statement on its website.
Snow and sleet are expected to affect Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan provinces, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and northeast China over the same period.The NMC suggested old people living in south China avoid outdoor activities while the bad weather lasts.
Persistent icy weather has wreaked havoc in south China, disrupting traffic and damaging power facilities.
More than 4 million people were affected by the cold spell, with one person dead and 94,900 people evacuated as of Jan. 10 in Guizhou alone, according to statistics from the provincial government's emergency response office.
Further, economic losses hit 1.1 billion yuan (166,078,550 U.S.dollars), according to the office.
Also, ice-covered roads triggered many accidents and police have called for drivers to practice patience and restraint in slow traffic.
Wang Zhongqin, 47, deputy secretary-general of Zunyi Municipal Government of Guizhou, was killed when his car slid into a 100-meter deep valley on his way to a flooded coal mine Tuesday morning in Wuchuan County, said a spokesman with the municipal government.
Ten miners were underground when Qinglong coal mine flooded Monday morning. Six miners were lifted to the ground safely while four others remain trapped underground, said the spokesman.
