A major international airport in Chicago was shut down and many people lost power supply on Friday after a fierce snowstorm swept across the United States.

 

The O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, was closed after 15 to 30 centimeters of snow was recorded overnight. Some 400 flights were canceled at airport, causing chaos in other airports with connecting flights.

 

About 2.4 million people lost power supply in Illinois and Missouri, media reports said.

 

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius declared a disaster emergency for 27 counties, which were hard-hit by the snowstorm.

 

The storm struck areas from Southwestern states to the Midwest on Thursday, closing thousands of schools and offices, and was blamed for at least three traffic deaths on Thursday, with two in Missouri.

 

Earlier this week, a snowstorm swept the northwestern part of the country, and at least seven people were killed in storm- related traffic accidents in Colorado and Washington state.   

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2006)