The Arab League (AL) expressed Monday its solidarity with the Chinese people over the havoc caused by the heavy snowfalls that hit central and southern China.

In a press statement from the AL General Secretariat received by Xinhua, the AL sent its condolences to the Chinese government, people and the victims of the heavy snowfalls.

The bad weather swept over 160 districts and cities in central China, causing massive damage, injuries and death and forcing several families to leave their homes.

Meanwhile, the AL expressed its confidence that the Chinese government will overcome the disaster.

Since January 10, snow, sleet and low temperatures have swept China's southern regions, a rarity for the area. The bad weather has been more extreme in the central provinces of Hubei and Hunan.

A lingering blizzard, which has lasted more than two weeks, was the longest over the past 100 years. In Hunan, ice sticking to electricity transmission cables was between 30 and 60 millimeters thick.

Statistics show that the snow has so far killed at least 60 people and forced the evacuation of nearly 1.76 million people. From January 25 to 31, a total of 5.8 million passengers were stranded throughout the railway network and more than 8,000 cargo trains were affected.
 
(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2008)