Heavy Snow Disrupts Travel, Schools in China

An intense snowstorm has enveloped large swathes of northern and central China, causing significant disruptions to travel networks and educational institutions, and leading to a tragic fatality.

In Hebei province, a catastrophic roof collapse at a local supermarket resulted in one casualty, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.

The inclement weather has wreaked havoc on the region's transportation infrastructure, with numerous flights and key intercity rail services, pivotal to the daily commute of countless Chinese citizens, facing cancellations and delays.

In response to the escalating situation, provincial authorities have issued severe weather advisories.

Efforts to mitigate the impact of the snowstorm saw the mobilization of tens of thousands of personnel, equipped with brooms and shovels and supported by snowplows, particularly in the most severely affected areas.

Beijing, the host city of the 2022 Winter Olympics, witnessed about 5 centimeters (2 inches) of snowfall overnight, adding to the city's winter woes.

The onset of the severe weather was first recorded in western China last weekend, combining snowstorms with sandstorms to close roads and leave many drivers stranded.

These individuals were predominantly returning home following the conclusion of the weeklong Lunar New Year celebrations.

The harsh winter conditions have not been confined to China alone. In neighboring Mongolia, over 650,000 livestock succumbed to the extreme cold and snow, according to a report by China's Xinhua News Agency, which cited the Mongolian emergency management agency.

This winter has seen severe cold and heavy snowfall impact vast regions of northeast Asia.

Earlier in the month, heavy snow caused disruptions to rail services and led to the grounding of over 100 flights in the Tokyo area.

Additionally, snow and freezing rain resulted in thousands of motorists in central China being trapped en route home in anticipation of the Lunar New Year festivities.

In a related incident last month, tourists at a ski resort in western China were evacuated following avalanches that left more than 1,000 individuals isolated for a week.