Thousands evacuated from snowbound region of China
More than 5,400 people have been evacuated after China's north-west Xinjiang region was hit by a strong blizzard that left one person dead.
The official Xinhua News Agency reported today that the Civil Affairs Ministry said heavy snow flattened about 800 homes and damaged nearly 5,000 others in Xinjiang's Tacheng and Altay regions.
According to Xinhua, the blizzard sent temperatures plunging and also disrupted electricity supply and transport. It said the ministry had allocated 5,000 tents, as well as cotton-padded coats and quilts for disaster relief.
