Record snowfall strands millions of Chinese before lunar new year

Published: 2008-01-30

HONG KONG (CNS) -- The heaviest snowfall in 50 years affected more than 70 million people in 14 provinces of central, eastern and southern China, stranding millions of travelers trying to get home for the annual lunar new year celebration. The snow and sleet, which began Jan. 10, forced the relocation of hundreds of thousands of people and resulted in at least 55 deaths, collapsed buildings, power cuts, highway closures and damage to crops. On Jan. 30, the Central Meteorological Observatory forecast more rain and snow until Feb. 5. In the southern province of Jiangxi, Father Simon Feng Ronghua told the Asian church news agency UCA News that, regardless of snowstorms, he would visit dozens of poor Catholic families the week before the lunar new year. News agencies report 200 million Chinese workers travel home to rural areas for the festive occasion, which begins Feb. 7 and officially lasts a week.

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