Southern China tested by record cold temps

Governments in southern China are struggling to aid the homeless and repair infrastructure amid persistent cold weather that has brought the lowest temperatures recorded in 28 years.

Shelters equipped with quilts, coats and food have opened to the homeless in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province.

"You can find shelters and aid stations for the elderly and homeless in all communities and villages in our district," said Zou Zhongxian, a civil affairs official in the city's Luyang District.

The civil affairs bureau in south China's city of Guangzhou has also arranged 1,347 shelters for the elderly.

Massive amounts of snow blanketed Anhui's Huangshan Mountain on Tuesday, putting pressure on authorities to prevent traffic disruptions and ensure safety for tourists.

More than 1,000 traffic officers and volunteers have worked together to clear snow and spread salt on icy roads. Drivers have been asked to put chains on their vehicle tires to prevent skids, and workers have been dispatched to check old trees that may be in danger of falling.

Maintaining power is also a concern, as regions that rely on hydroelectric sources may be prone to electricity shortages during periods of icy weather, experts have warned.

An official from a State Grid branch in Hunan Province said 113 power lines have frozen in the province thus far.

In southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, over 166,600 people have been affected by the freezing disaster, according to the regional civil affairs bureau.

Freezing rain and snowfalls have also affected about 18,500 hectares of overwintering farmland in Guangxi.

That province's direct economic losses to the cold weather are estimated to be over 83.9 million yuan (about 13.48 million U.S. dollars), mostly coming in agricultural fields.