Blizzard closes highways in NE China, casualties reported

A sanitation worker clears the snow on a road in Harbin City, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Nov. 17, 2013. Traffic and schools have been hit in northeast China's Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces as a blizzard closed expressways and schools and delayed flights. (Xinhua/Zhang Qingyun)

At least four people were killed and seven others injured in traffic accidents as a blizzard swept through northeast China provinces for a third day on Monday.

The casualties were reported in eight traffic accidents, all of which happened on slippery frozen roads, according to the provincial department of public security in Jilin, one of the worst-hit provinces.

The department has mobilized more traffic police to conduct 24-hour patrolling on the roads and urged drivers to take extra caution.

The blizzard, which began to hit the northeastern provinces of Jilin, Heilongjiang and Liaoning on Saturday, also forced schools and highways to close on Monday.

The education authority in Jilin told Xinhua that all kindergartens, primary and junior high schools were closed in the cities of Changchun, Jilin and Baishan, where snow was more than 10 cm deep.

"Students' safety is our top priority. Where the weather is not that bad, closure of schools is not mandatory," said Lu Lin, head of the school security office under the Jilin Provincial Department of Education.

The severe snowstorm caused traffic jams in most northeastern cities on Monday morning. Frozen highways were closed and people were waiting at bus stops and taxi stands.

"I have been waiting for a bus for over half an hour, but there's no sign of a single bus or a taxi," said Liu Zhi in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province.

More than 20,000 people and police have worked in rounds to clear snow and ice from the streets, but the result has not been satisfactory as the snow continues to accumulate on roads.

Flights are operating at Changchun's Longjia International Airport.However, the airport issued a yellow alert and delays are expected as visibility has dropped below 500 meters.

The snow had delay 21 trains coming into or leaving Heilongjiang as of 1 p.m.

Meteorological observatories have issued warnings for heavier snow during the next 24 hours.