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| Chinese freeze strands thousands | |
| (4 days later) | |
| Severe winter weather is causing travel chaos in China as tens of millions of people try to return home for the country's main holiday, Lunar New Year. | Severe winter weather is causing travel chaos in China as tens of millions of people try to return home for the country's main holiday, Lunar New Year. |
| At least 170,000 people are stuck at the railway station in Guangzhou, in the southern Guangdong province, where most trains have been cancelled. | At least 170,000 people are stuck at the railway station in Guangzhou, in the southern Guangdong province, where most trains have been cancelled. |
| Many thousands are stranded because of blocked roads, with some areas running out of salt to spread on icy surfaces. | Many thousands are stranded because of blocked roads, with some areas running out of salt to spread on icy surfaces. |
| More than 20 people have been killed since the severe weather began. | More than 20 people have been killed since the severe weather began. |
| Snow and sleet have affected central, eastern and southern China - regions used to milder winters. More heavy snow is forecast to fall. | Snow and sleet have affected central, eastern and southern China - regions used to milder winters. More heavy snow is forecast to fall. |
| Motorways as well as railways have been brought to a standstill - especially in the east. | Motorways as well as railways have been brought to a standstill - especially in the east. |
| Several regional airports have been closed, and many provinces are enduring reduced power supplies. | Several regional airports have been closed, and many provinces are enduring reduced power supplies. |
| Last year two billion journeys were made over the New Year period, making it the largest mass migration on the planet. | Last year two billion journeys were made over the New Year period, making it the largest mass migration on the planet. |
| The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Shanghai says conditions on overcrowded buses and trains are terrible over the holiday period even without the severe weather. | The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Shanghai says conditions on overcrowded buses and trains are terrible over the holiday period even without the severe weather. |
| 'Work as one' | 'Work as one' |
| A steady flow of travellers has continued to arrive a Guangzhou station despite a power failure in neighbouring Hunan province causing most trains to be cancelled. | A steady flow of travellers has continued to arrive a Guangzhou station despite a power failure in neighbouring Hunan province causing most trains to be cancelled. |
| After three days of waiting for his train to the south-western city of Chongqing, Liu Si told Reuters news agency he had little hope it would leave any time soon. | After three days of waiting for his train to the south-western city of Chongqing, Liu Si told Reuters news agency he had little hope it would leave any time soon. |
| Some provinces have endured their worst snow in a decade | Some provinces have endured their worst snow in a decade |
| "I've been in Guangdong a decade, I've never spent a Chinese New Year here. This year I might have to. It just won't feel right." | "I've been in Guangdong a decade, I've never spent a Chinese New Year here. This year I might have to. It just won't feel right." |
| Guangzhou's authorities have arranged temporary shelters in schools and other public buildings for passengers stuck at the station. | Guangzhou's authorities have arranged temporary shelters in schools and other public buildings for passengers stuck at the station. |
| The civil affairs ministry said the weather had affected 67 million people and had already cost 18.2bn yuan ($2.5bn; £1.3bn). | The civil affairs ministry said the weather had affected 67 million people and had already cost 18.2bn yuan ($2.5bn; £1.3bn). |
| Earlier, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the weather was threatening lives and disrupting supplies of fresh food, oil and gas ahead of the New Year, and he warned worse could come. | Earlier, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the weather was threatening lives and disrupting supplies of fresh food, oil and gas ahead of the New Year, and he warned worse could come. |
| "Urgently mobilise and work as one to wage this tough battle against disaster," he told officials, according to a transcript on the official government website. | "Urgently mobilise and work as one to wage this tough battle against disaster," he told officials, according to a transcript on the official government website. |
| "Ensure that the people enjoy a joyful and auspicious Spring Festival." | "Ensure that the people enjoy a joyful and auspicious Spring Festival." |
| Brutal conditions in recent days have led to homes collapsing across China. Power lines have snapped and crops have been destroyed. | Brutal conditions in recent days have led to homes collapsing across China. Power lines have snapped and crops have been destroyed. |
| Parts of China have suffered their worst snowfalls in more than a decade. | Parts of China have suffered their worst snowfalls in more than a decade. |