Emergency measures rolled out for cold wave

Tourists admire the snowy landscape at Huangshan Mountain scenic area in Anhui province on Tuesday. (LI QIN/FOR CHINA DAILY)

As a cold snap grips the nation, local authorities have initiated emergency response measures to mitigate the impact of plunging temperatures and significant snowfall.

Since Saturday, strong winds and heavy snow have affected the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Northeast China and North China, with temperatures dropping by 12 to 16 C in some areas.

The China Meteorological Administration activated a level-four emergency response on Monday to address the ongoing snowstorm, advising affected regions to adjust measures based on local conditions.

In Heilongjiang province, snowfall prompted the local meteorological bureau to issue a red alert, the highest level in China's four-tier warning system, and initiate emergency plans to reduce the impact of blizzards.

In Jilin province, sanitation workers have been clearing snow and ice from roads, deploying large snow removal equipment to ensure safe travel. Transportation departments have responded swiftly to road emergencies, assisting vehicles trapped in the snow and restoring traffic conditions using snowplows and police vehicles.

As the Yellow River in Inner Mongolia approaches the ice jam season — when ice blocks the river, potentially causing flooding — the local water conservancy department has implemented preventive measures to remove obstructions and maintain water flow.

In Northwest China, meteorological, electricity and city management authorities have taken precautions to address emergencies caused by the season's first cold wave.

In Lanzhou, Gansu province, the heating service department established 16 teams to inspect heating systems in residential areas, ensuring their functionality during the cold spell. By Saturday afternoon, they had repaired heating pipe explosions in 76 communities and buildings, according to Wang Shuchao, an official with the Lanzhou Heating Service Center.

In Xining, Qinghai province, Ma Yan, a staff member of the local Tuanjie community, told Xinhua News Agency that community workers braved heavy snow and freezing temperatures to inspect heating in older buildings and clear snow from roads and rooftops.

In Beijing, under a blue cold wave alert, the Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism issued a notice requiring scenic spots, particularly in mountainous areas, to implement safety measures. These include taking action to prevent slips and falls on icy roads, evacuating tourists if necessary and temporarily closing sites during severe weather.

The cold wave is expected to continue moving southeast, affecting central and eastern regions of China in the coming days. Forecasters predict temperatures in the regions will drop by 6 to 8 C.