A recent blizzard in Ordos City of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has so far affected a total of 188,300 local people, officials said?Friday.

The heavy snowfall is still continuing in some areas of the city with the most important traditional Chinese holiday, the Spring Festival or lunar new year, just around the corner, according to the local disaster relief department.

The blizzard has caused deaths of 40,000 livestock with some 2.8 million hectares of grassland ruined.

And 3.32 million head of livestock, especially cattle and sheep,now have no food and are practically starving and menaced by the sub-zero temperatures.

There have been no reports so far of human casualties, but many villagers lack access to drinking water and food.

The autonomous regional government of Inner Mongolia has carried out immediate rescue and relief effort to cope with the blizzard. But since some rural roads have been blocked, rescue vehicles cannot reach the worst-affected areas.
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(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2006)