Special Report: China's war on snow havoc  

A worker fixes the power supply system in Tongshan county of central China’s Hubei Province on Feb. 15, 2008.  China's snow-ravaged provinces are gradually reviving from widespread blackouts caused by lingering snowstorm. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

        BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- China's snow-ravaged provinces are gradually reviving from widespread blackouts caused by lingering snowstorm.

    As of Saturday, the Southern Power Grid has lifted 23.28 million people from powerless, accounting for 88.9 percent of the total who suffered from blackouts, according to the latest statistics from the disaster relief and emergency command center under the State Council.

    The State Grid Corporation of China has restored 14,200 power transmission lines, or 92.9 percent of the total damaged, according to the commanding center. And 802 transformer substations have resumed operation, representing 97.1 percent of the disrupted.

    All villages and counties in Zhejiang and Guizhou provinces have restored power as of Saturday afternoon.

    Meanwhile, 91.8 percent of Hunan's power transmission lines paralyzed by the snow storm have been restored. The figure for Jiangxi is 91.5 percent.

    The snow-related catastrophes, worst in five decades, has killed 107 people and caused 111.1 billion yuan (15.45 billion U.S. dollars) in direct economic losses. In all, 21 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have been affected.