China is currently grappling with a severe cold wave, prompting President Xi Jinping to order an "all-out" emergency response. The frigid temperatures, falling below freezing, are affecting most parts of the country, leading to heavy snowfall and hindering transportation in many areas. The National Meteorological Centre has forecast a bone-chilling drop to below minus 40 degrees Celsius in regions such as Heilongjiang, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, and Qinghai.
President Xi, who recently visited the southern Guangxi region, expressed concern over the impact of the heavy rain and snow on power supplies, transportation, and daily life. He urged local governments to refine precautionary measures and contingency plans to tackle the challenging situation. As the cold wave moves from north to south, temperatures are expected to dip even lower over the weekend, although precipitation is expected to decrease, according to the Meteorological Centre.
In Heilongjiang's city of Yichun, there is a possibility of breaking the record low temperature of minus 47.9 degrees Celsius, set back in January 1980. Meanwhile, in Henan province, multiple accidents occurred on expressways due to snowfall, icy roads, and heavy fog, leading to traffic controls. In Ningxia, some highways have become unsafe, necessitating temporary traffic measures, while Gansu witnessed highway closures and suspension of train services.
In the outskirts of Beijing, an investigation is underway following an accident on a commuter rail line. A train carriage failed to brake while descending a slope and collided with another car that had stopped due to deteriorating track conditions caused by snowfall. Over 515 individuals were sent to hospitals for medical checks, with many suffering from bone fractures.
The southern province of Guangdong suspended 29 passenger ferry routes due to adverse maritime conditions. Similarly, ferries and buses in Shanghai were temporarily halted as the city issued its first cold wave warning of the year, with temperatures expected to drop as low as minus 6 degrees Celsius during the weekend.
In southwest China, Tibetan cities like Shigatse and Nyingchi experienced blocked highways due to heavy snow, ice, and reduced visibility. Beijing, Jiangxi, and Shanxi have implemented measures to protect vegetable and fruit harvests from freeze damage and diseases.
Although China lifted its blizzard warning early on Friday, heavy snowfall is anticipated in Liaoning, Jilin, and Shandong provinces. In Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning, approximately 22,000 workers and 3,400 machines have been deployed for snow removal operations, with the local observatory forecasting more snowfall and strong winds until Saturday.
The upcoming week also promises persistent cold air flowing southwards across China, resulting in consistently low temperatures in central and eastern regions. The country continues to remain vigilant in tackling the challenges posed by this intense cold wave.