China: Cold Wave - Feb 1996

According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Beijing, since the end of 1995, many counties in Yushu prefecture of Ginghai province and Ganzi prefecture of Sichuan province, both in mountainous areas of 4000-5000 metres above sea level, have been struck by record low temperatures and unusually heavy snowfalls. Many settlements have been isolated by snow drifts. In Yushu prefecture, 72,000 people from 5 counties have been affected. 520,000 livestock, 40% of adult livestock in the whole prefecture, were lost. In Ganzi prefecture, 130,000 people from 9 counties have been affected. More than 180,000 livestock were lost. (UN DHA, 9 Feb 1996)

According to the update issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Beijing, 48 people are confirmed dead, most of them in Shiqu county. The temperature in Shiqu still stays around minus 30 - 40 degrees centigrade. (UN DHA, 13 Feb 1996)