More than 100,000 people are enduring a drinking water shortage
in central China's Hubei Province since Thursday when the plunging
temperature froze supply.
The low temperature, along with continuous heavy snowfall, burst
water pipes and frozen hydrometers in Wuhan, the Hubei capital.
About 2,000 citizens have contact a water-supply hotline for
help, a record high in recent years, according to the Wuhan Water
Bureau.
"The water supply here has been cut off for four days since the
water tank in our building froze. We have had to fetch water from
downstairs ever since," said a local resident.
"I have not seen such a low temperature in Wuhan for more than
10 years," he added.
To ensure supply, the Wuhan Water Bureau deployed nearly 4,000
vehicles and 15,200 workers to repair broken pipes and
hydrometers.
Heavy snow also closed five expressways in Hubei on Saturday,
further burdening the Wuhan railway terminal amid the current
Spring Festival travel peak that started Friday.
Passenger flow at the Hankou Railway Station on Saturday had
doubled compared to the same time a year earlier, reaching a record
high of 47,000.
Heavy snow was also reported throughout the country.
In the northwestern Gansu Province, the local meteorological
observatory issued a red warning, the highest alert, to remind
drivers and pedestrians of the icy road conditions.
In the eastern Jiangsu Province, meteorological authorities in
Nanjing forecast the snow, which began in the morning, would last
for two days.
The eastern Anhui and northwestern Shaanxi provinces also
reported heavy snow and a cold front.
(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2008)