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China and Koreas endure deep snow Beijing hit by record snowfall
(about 3 hours later)
Schools have been closed in the Chinese capital Beijing, and flights cancelled out of Beijing and South Korea's capital Seoul, due to heavy snow. The authorities in Beijing have closed schools and mobilised thousands of people to help clear roads after the heaviest snowfall for nearly 60 years.
About 30cm (almost 12 inches) of snow has blanketed parts of Beijing, the most since 1951. Up to 30cm (12 inches) of snow fell in China's capital and its neighbouring port city of Tianjin over the weekend.
The government has ordered residents to form work groups to clear snow and ice as transport systems come under strain. Thousands of travellers have been left stranded at Beijing's international airport, and more than 30 highways across northern China are closed.
Temperatures were well below freezing, partly because of winds from Siberia, although fewer snowfalls are predicted. Officials have ordered residents into work groups to clear the snow and ice.
The Chinese government had ordered 300,000 people to help clear roads, the China Daily reported. Heavy snowfall has also led to flight cancellations and delays in South Korea.
Not over yetNot over yet
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville says the cold snap is halting normal activities in an area already used to heavy weather but is not yet as bad as a 2008 freeze which caused huge power outages and transport breakdowns. The snowfall over the weekend in Beijing was the most the capital has seen since 1951, according to local media reports.
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing says the cold snap is halting normal activities in an area already used to heavy weather, but is not yet as bad as the 2008 freeze which caused huge power outages and transport breakdowns.
Beijing's international airport has seen many delays and cancellations
More than 3,500 schools in Beijing and Tianjin were forced to shut their doors on Monday, giving more than 2.2 million students an extra day of New Year's holiday, state media reported.More than 3,500 schools in Beijing and Tianjin were forced to shut their doors on Monday, giving more than 2.2 million students an extra day of New Year's holiday, state media reported.
More than 30 highways in and around the capital were impassable, although ice-covered inner city roads were carrying light, slow traffic.More than 30 highways in and around the capital were impassable, although ice-covered inner city roads were carrying light, slow traffic.
"Low temperatures and ice-covered roads are expected to severely affect local traffic on Monday," Song Jianguo, the head of the Beijing traffic management bureau, told the official Xinhua news agency."Low temperatures and ice-covered roads are expected to severely affect local traffic on Monday," Song Jianguo, the head of the Beijing traffic management bureau, told the official Xinhua news agency.
The authorities warned the conditions could push up food prices, delay further flights, and hold up some business in Beijing and other cities for several days. The authorities warned that the conditions could push up food prices, delay further flights, and hold up some business in Beijing and other cities for several days.
The cold snap could also strain gas supplies, the government said.The cold snap could also strain gas supplies, the government said.
Airport officials told reporters that the runways were being cleared and operations would soon be returning to normal.Airport officials told reporters that the runways were being cleared and operations would soon be returning to normal.
However, more than 100 flights were delayed and dozens cancelled, leaving thousands of people stranded, as workers de-iced snow-covered planes unable to take off over the weekend.However, more than 100 flights were delayed and dozens cancelled, leaving thousands of people stranded, as workers de-iced snow-covered planes unable to take off over the weekend.
Airports in the nearby cities of Tianjin, Hohhot and Shijiazhuang were closed completely and most main roads out of Beijing closed.Airports in the nearby cities of Tianjin, Hohhot and Shijiazhuang were closed completely and most main roads out of Beijing closed.
China's national meteorological office warned that temperatures in its far north could fall to -32C (-26F), with Beijing temperatures around -10C in daytime. Although no more snow is forecast in the capital in the coming days, snowstorms are expected in north-east China and eastern Shandong province.
China's national meteorological office warned that temperatures in its far north could fall to -32C (-26F).
Large parts of the Korean peninsula were also blanketed with heavy snow that caused chaos in Monday's rush-hour.Large parts of the Korean peninsula were also blanketed with heavy snow that caused chaos in Monday's rush-hour.
Heavy snow also grounded dozens of planes at major airports in South Korea after more than 17cm of snow fell in just four hours. Gimpo airport in Seoul, a hub for South Korea's domestic flights, was forced to cancel many outgoing and inbound flights because of the snowfall, airport officials said.
Gimpo airport in Seoul, a hub for South Korea's domestic flights, was forced to cancel 90 outgoing and inbound flights because of the snowfall, airport officials said. Incheon airport, the main international airport west of Seoul, also reported cancellations and delays, they said.
Incheon airport, the main international airport west of Seoul, also reported four cancellations and 40 delayed flights, they said.
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