Snowstorms affect 7,500 people in NE China

HARBIN/CHANGCHUN, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Snowstorms in recent days have affected road traffic and caused difficulties to local people in northeast China.

The snowstorms from Sunday to Tuesday have affected more than 7,500 residents in Hegang and Shuangyashan cities in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The snowstorms also flattened 170 houses and suspended local bus service, local government officials said.

The snowstorms also damaged 33,000 hectares of trees and more than 2,200 hectares of crops in the two cities.

All expressways in Heilongjiang were forced to close on Tuesday morning due to heavy snow, local transportation authorities said.

Major expressways linking Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province, and other cities in the province, including Mudanjiang, Daqing and Yichun, have been closed since 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Traffic police have been patrolling in case of emergencies.

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