Heavy snow and gale force winds caused the temperature to drop by 18 degrees in Altay in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region last week. The freezing conditions left one person dead and at least 276 injured or sick.

Chinahas been repeatedly struck by cold waves this winter. Liaoning and Jilin provinces and the eastern part of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region have suffered the coldest weather in 30 years, while Beijing and Tianjin have been hit by the largest amount of snow in 59 years.

Several provinces have been struggling with coal and gas shortages since late last year.

Editor: Xie Fang

Source: china.org.cn