Tens of thousands of households in central China's plateau region remain in the dark after heavy snow hit the area three days ago, local officials said Friday.
Authorities in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province estimated that nearly 90,000 people have been affected by the weather, which damaged hundreds of houses, forced relocation of three dozen people, damaged 274 hectares of farmland and destroyed 51 hectares.
Power supply was severely damaged. According to an initial estimate by the state grid company, snow brought down nearly 9,000 electric poles, and destroyed 63 voltage transformers and other supporting facilities.
By noon Friday, thousands of rescuers had been sent to restore the power supply.
Meanwhile, the heavy snow has turned to a drizzle as the restoration efforts continue.
