The Beijing-Zhuhai expressway, which runs north-south through
China, was partially reopened on Sunday, officials said.
The road was reopened at 3:40 p.m. due to de-icing efforts by
soldiers and police. At the Liangtian service station in the
Chenzhou section of the road, local communication departments were
distributing snow chains to stranded trucks. The trucks were
running south slowly in an orderly fashion.
Local governments have set up emergency tents every two
kilometers along the road where coats, quilts, food and medicine
are available.
Many drivers have been stranded in the south-bound section of
the road for more than a week. Chen Erqun of Zhengzhou in the
central Henan province, said he had been on the grid-locked section
of road for more than nine days.
Some drivers warmed themselves by setting fires along the
road.
The south-bound lanes were closed due to icy surfaces, while
those going north-bound remained open, officials said.
The north-bound portion of the expressway is now mostly being
used for moving soldiers and emergency supplies.
The expressway has been closed and re-opened repeatedly over the
past week due to unusual freezing weather in central and southern
China.
The military logistics department on Sunday sent 100,000 quilts
by rail to the central Hunan Province. A day earlier, the air force
sent three transporters to help transport relief material from
southern Guangdong Province to neighboring Hunan.
(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2008)