Heilongjiang counts the cost of snowstorm

Power and water supplies disrupted, traffic at a standstill after storm

After squeezing through a door blocked by snow, 56-year-old Kang Chuanguo and his family have been working tirelessly to salvage what is left of their farm.

Of the four 400-square-meter greenhouses providing the family's sole source of income, only one has survived unscathed from blizzards that have hit Northeast China. One collapsed, while minor damage was caused to the others.

"This snowstorm has cost us at least 40,000 yuan ($6,400)," said Kang, of Qianjin village, Hegang, Heilongjiang province.

Although snowstorms are common in the region in winter, Kang said: "I've rarely experienced the kind of blizzard we're seeing now." 

The meteorological department in Heilongjiang reported snowfalls averaging 50 cm deep in Hegang on Tuesday morning, equaling record figures recorded in the past five decades.

The snow, which began falling on Sunday, disrupted power and water supplies, caused traffic chaos and severe damage to hundreds of greenhouses. 

Hegang city's civil affairs bureau said that by Monday the snowstorms had affected 6,450 people, destroyed 145 greenhouses and 173 houses, causing estimated economic losses of 12.3 million yuan.

Power and water supplies were restored in most parts of the province on Monday evening.

Although the snow is expected to stop on Wednesday, residents are preparing for more by buying candles and flashlights.

Candles have sold out in stores near Wen Caizhen's house in Hegang.

The 55-year-old woman said: "My neighbors went out to buy candles and emergency lights in case power supplies are affected again this winter."

Many residents are also walking instead of driving, and writing instead of using computers.

Du Peng, a 25-year-old civil servant in Hegang, said power supplies had not been restored in his office on Tuesday, forcing the workforce to handwrite documents. 

He said one of his friends also had to walk two hours to the office on Monday, which is about 8 km from his home, because public transportation services were suspended.

With the city paralyzed, some taxi drivers are trying to cash in, with cab fares rising from 6 yuan per person to up to 10 yuan on Monday.

Kou Guimei, deputy general manager of the BUT supermarket company in Hegang, said food prices are still stable and the supermarket has sufficient food and water supplies. 

City authorities said on Monday officials had decided to spend 10 million yuan to help the city return to normal as soon as possible, including providing free public transport. 

Schools have suspended classes since Monday and they will not reopen until the weather improves, the Hegang government says.

Jilin province and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region have also been hit by snowstorms.

According to the latest forecast by the China Meteorological Administration on Tuesday, a cold front is likely to pass through most parts of the country before Friday, further dragging temperatures down by up to 10 C.