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Bachu County of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the scene of last week's devastating earthquake measuring 6.8 degrees on the Richter scale, is experiencing heavy snowfall, complicating the country's relief operations.
According to local sources in Bachu County, it began to snow on Saturday, and by Sunday, the snow had turned to sleet.
There has been a notable drop in temperatures, with daytime lows of four degrees below zero Celsius. The sleet is expected to continue through Wednesday, according to meteorologists in Kashi Prefecture.
Memetmin, an official of Kalayujimi, another of Bachu's devastated villages, believes that the sleet will facilitate spring planting, but made relief operations difficult.
Because of the severe weather, the earthquake control headquarters dispatched relief workers door to door to inquire about the well being of local earthquake victims.
A total of 30 tons of plastic sheeting has been distributed to local residents for the building of makeshift shelters. Another 30 tons of plastic sheeting has been collected from neighboring areas in the event that it is needed, said sources from the earthquake control headquarters.
According to the sources, more tents are expected to arrive in Bachu on Monday.
(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2003)
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