The Emergency Management Office of the State Council issued a
circular Monday, calling for local governments and relevant central
government departments to be alert on low-temperature and heavy
snowfalls across the country.
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Since January 12, most part of the country has experienced the
severe temperature drop this winter and heavy snowfalls which
caused traffic stoppages and heavy financial losses in some areas,
according to the circular.
On January 25-27, a strong cool weather, featuring heavy
rainfalls or snowfalls, are expected to move from west to east,
gradually, to hit the eastern part of northwest China, southern
part of north China, the Huanghe-Huaihe area, the Changjiang-Huaihe
area, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the eastern part of southwest
China, the southern part of Jiangsu Province, and south China, the
circular says.
It urges local authorities to give top priority to the strong
cool weather and heavy snowfalls in a period of time when the
traditional Spring Festival is approaching.
Premier Wen Jiabao has made special instructions urging
localities to pay great attention to the negative impacts of the
current rainy and snowy weathers on production, transportation and
people's life. He called for substantial efforts to resolve
difficulties and problems local people have met while trying to
prevent major accidents, according to the circular.
It demands local authorities to make great efforts to ensure
safe and smooth communications and transportation; ensure a normal
order for production and people's life in both urban and rural
areas; do a good job in disaster relief, especially in farming and
herding areas; and further strengthen the work of weather
monitoring and forecasting.
Governments, departments concerned, and emergency management
departments at all levels must have people on duty round-the-clock,
to closely, monitor climatic changes and report the occurrence of
disasters to local or central authorities, according to the
circular.
(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2008)
