Heavy snowstorm lashes Xinjiang for 20 hours
新疆遭遇嚴重暴風雪襲擊

A heavy snowstorm has lashed the city of Kuytun, in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, for 20 straight hours.

The snow began at 10 a.m. Monday, and lasted until 8:00 on Tuesday morning. In some areas of Kuytun, the snow was as thick as 30 centimeters. Temperatures in the region also plummeted to minus 28 degrees.

The local government has dispatched personnel to clear snow from roads and houses and is making efforts to ensure people still have heat and electricity.