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CHENZHOU City in Hunan Province has been nearly isolated from the rest of the country as the worst snowstorm in 50 years has cut its power and water supplies.
The city of 4.6 million people has had no power or running water for six days, forcing shops and banks to close, Guangzhou-based Nanfang Daily reported today.
The crisis could deteriorate even further. More snow and sleet is expected to fall in the area later today, according to the China Meteorological Association. It forecast the harsh weather to continue for at least three more days.
All electricity lines connecting inter-provincial power networks in Chenzhou were damaged while power lines inside the city were also knocked out by heavy snowfall, the report said, citing Yuan Jiayou, the secretary general of the Chenzhou government.
Even the city's hospitals and government buildings are without power as the storm also damaged telecommunications cables and Internet networks, the report said.
Chenzhou Television Station set up temporary tents in open areas to broadcast the latest storm news with the help of electricity generators.
All banks and stores have closed. Most automatic teller machines have stopped working, it added.
Residents scrambled to hotels with electricity generators so that they could have hot water and electricity, the report said, adding that it cost at least 498 yuan (US$69.27) for a single room.
The blackout pushed up the price of candles to 50 yuan each while the cost of vegetables, buses and taxis have doubled, the report said.
Chenzhou power supply authority has mobilized all its workers to repair the damaged electricity facilities, Yuan said.
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