Unusual Blizzard Paralyzes China's Northeast Region with Heavy Snowfall
China's northeast region experiences chaos as an unprecedented early blizzard wreaks havoc, leading to flight cancellations, train disruptions, school closures, and road shutdowns The season's first major snowfall brings mass disruption and inconvenience to the affected areas
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China experienced an unexpected and significant snowfall in its northeastern regions this week. As a result, airlines had to cancel flights, trains were halted, and schools and roads were closed in the country's first major blizzard of the season.
According to The Paper, a state-run news outlet, the initial snowfall in northeast China typically occurs from late November to early December. The chief weather forecaster from China's National Meteorological Center provided this information.
Due to the snowstorm, the railway operator in Heilongjiang, the northernmost province of China, suspended 51 passenger trains on Tuesday. In addition, Harbin, the capital city of the province, canceled over 400 flights at its international airport on Monday. Smaller airports throughout the province also canceled all flights.
Schools, kindergartens, and off-campus training institutions in the majority of Harbin experienced a temporary closure on Monday and Tuesday as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.
In the city of Jiamusi, authorities are currently conducting an investigation following the collapse of a gymnasium on Monday during the snowstorm. Unfortunately, three students who were trapped inside lost their lives. This information comes from the state news agency Xinhua.
According to Xinhua, a group of seven middle school students were playing basketball at the sports club when the roof suddenly caved in on them. While three students managed to escape, the report states that the remaining four were trapped. The cause of the collapse is currently being investigated. Xinhua also revealed that the gym was constructed in 2018 and had undergone a safety inspection in 2020, which it had passed.
Heavy snow falls in Xiangfang district of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on November 6, 2023.
The recent collapse of the second gymnasium in Heilongjiang is a cause for concern. Just a few months ago, heavy rainfall led to the tragic incident where the roof of a school gym in Qiqihar city fell on a student volleyball team, resulting in the loss of 11 lives.
The two incidents have provoked public outrage and prompted concerns about the standards and security of buildings.
Harbin, on Sunday and Monday, declared a red blizzard alert - the most severe category in China's four-tier warning system.
More than 200 expressway entrances in the neighboring province of Jilin were closed on Monday due to severe snowfall. The national weather forecaster in China issued an orange blizzard alert, the second highest level, on Saturday and extended it on Monday for areas in Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Inner Mongolia. The alert was finally lifted on Tuesday.
