Winter storms affect 600,000 in SW China

Harsh weather in southwest China's Yunnan Province since Friday will have huge economic and social ramifications, local authorities announced on Monday.

More than 600,000 people and 36,000 hectares of arable farmland have been affected by the icy rain and heavy snow, which caused 64 houses to collapse and more than 8,100 cattle and poultry to die, in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.

Roads and water facilities have been severely damaged, and power and communications have been cut off in certain areas, the local government said.

As of 5 p.m. Sunday, the direct economic loss was estimated at about 870 million yuan (142 million U.S. dollars).