CHENGDU, Feb. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Recent snow storms in Southwest China's Sichuan Province caused 244 million yuan (30.5 million U.S. dollars) of direct economic losses, latest official statistics show.

    The freak weather conditions, which lasted from Feb. 14 to 18, hit 20 counties, cities and prefectures in Sichuan, affecting 474,000 people, according to the provincial disaster relief office.

    It snowed for 50 straight hours in the counties of Xuanhan, Dazhu and Daxian from the evening of Feb. 16 until the morning of Feb. 18. The snow was 60 cm deep in the mountainous areas. This amount has rarely been seen in the past two decades, experts said.

    The snow struck 5,533 hectares of cropland and destroyed another 800 hectares.

    In Shimian County, three consecutive days of snow left 500 livestock dead due to frigidity and lack of food.

    Parts of Shimian were also hit by strong gales, which damaged some transportation and communication facilities.

    To date, no casualties have been reported. Enditem