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China In Lockdown As Weather Worsens

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Bianca
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« on: January 30, 2008, 01:33:15 pm »








                                         China in lockdown as weather worsens


                               Forecasters expect three more days of bad weather





BEIJING, China (CNN) -- China's worst winter in more than half a century showed no signs
of abating Wednesday as forecasters told citizens to brace for three more days of snow
and sleet.

The heavy snow and sleet have paralyzed transport and coal shipments, and led to travelers
cramming railways stations and airports and power supply reductions in almost half of the
31 provinces and regions on the Chinese mainland," China's Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, China's Civil Affairs Ministry said the cost of the storms to the Chinese economy
had reached $4.5 billion.

In Guangzhou, hundreds of factory workers who had saved money all year to visit their
families during China's Lunar New Year flooded the city's packed train station, waiting for
trains that were not expected to arrive for days.

Up to half a million people have camped out in the southern city for nearly a week, hoping
to get home for the traditional annual family visit during next week's Lunar New Year.

Factories in the province of Guangzhou shut down Wednesday ahead of the Feb. 7 holiday
with workers joining the masses around the train station -- hoping the government would
deliver on its promise of quick action and immediate relief for those trying to make it home.

"I have been sleeping out here for six days. I have spent all my money. I don't know how
I will get home," one man said. "It is a disaster from heaven."

Another man told CNN's Hugh Riminton he had tried to get out of Guangzhou every way
possible -- by airplane, bus and his own car -- but could not make it because of the
weather conditions.

"Now he's in the queue with everyone else trying to get on a train," Riminton said. "And the
trains simply aren't going at the moment and it's unlikely they'll be going really in sufficient
numbers for days to come"

Security is tight at the railway station as people occasionally stampeded the barricade in
an attempt to get closer to the train platforms, to no avail. Armed riot police flooded the
station on Wednesday to regain control of the situation.

So far, Chinese authorities have managed to persuade nearly 470,000 people to abandon
their travel plans and accept a refund for their train tickets.

Prime Minister Wen Jiabao apologized Tuesday to the hundreds of thousands of people
stranded in train stations across his country -- a rare move by a Chinese politician.

"I apologize to you all," said Wen, using a bullhorn to address stranded travelers at a
station in Hunan province. "We are currently trying our best to repair the system.

"First we'll fix the electric grid. After that, the trains will run again. ... Then all of you
can go home for the Chinese New Year," the premier said, bringing applause from the
crowd.

Chinese media replayed the apology several times. The unusual gesture is likely to go a
long way in pacifying the anger and frustrations of the thousands stranded across the
country, CNN's Jaime Florcruz said.

President Hu Jintao called an emergency meeting of the policy-making politburo and
vowed a quick government response.

The moves are intended to show that the government is in control and taking respon-
sibility for the situation, Florcruz said.

More than 177 million Chinese were expected to travel by train, and 22 million more by
plane, for Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival.

"Going home every year is an obligation," one Chinese woman explained. "It is family
reunion, and no matter how difficult it is, we have to do it."

Brian Blackwell of Chicago was stranded for two days at Shanghai's Hongqiao Interna-
tional Airport, where tempers were short and several fist fights nearly broke out.

"There were thousands of people there and they were pushing toward the counter,"
Blackwell told CNN. "You had no idea what the status of your flight was."

On Wednesday, Blackwell drove to Shanghai's Pudong International Airport to catch a
United Airlines flight to Chicago. He said the mood was much calmer at Pudong, which
handles more international flights.

Brutal winter weather has pounded China's central, eastern and southern sections.
In its 10-day forecast, the China Meteorological Administration said Wednesday
that southwestern, eastern and southern China can expect more snow and sleet
with freezing temperatures, while northern China will stay clear but windy.

The winter precipitation had caused at least 49 deaths due to collapsed roofs and
treacherous travel conditions, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and local officials said.


Early Tuesday, a passenger bus plunged off a slippery mountain road in southwestern
China's Guizhou province, killing at least 25 people and injuring 13, Xinhua reported.

Nearly a million police have been dispatched to help keep roadways open as thousands
of vehicles have become stranded in the snow and ice, according to Chinese Ministry
of Public Safety spokesman Wu.
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Volitzer
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« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2008, 03:10:26 pm »

Then they'll execute the Secratary of Transportation for not forseeing all of this and a convienent scapegoat.
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Bianca
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« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2008, 04:42:28 pm »





This is not the time to be sarcastic.


Hundreds of thousands of people are suffering and dieing!!!



You live in here in Florida now, Vol.  Pray to God(ddess) that a hurricane does not come our
way this summer.


You may feel a tad more sympathetic, then.

« Last Edit: January 30, 2008, 04:45:34 pm by Bianca » Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Volitzer
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Posts: 11110



« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2008, 05:17:32 pm »

I do empathize with the Chinese people.

Many have to escape to Austrailia to avoid persecution.

It's the Chi-Commies I am making fun of.
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