A powerful blizzard has swept across many parts of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region since Tuesday, disrupting traffic and affecting daily life in several areas.
In Urumqi, a blanket of heavy snow has led to slippery roads and causing slow-moving traffic.
Sanitation workers and snow-clearing vehicles have been working around the clock to clear snow from the main streets.
Qin Jianbo, instructor of Shuiqu Brigade at the Urumqi Traffic Police Detachment, said they are all hands on deck and have activated a Level-1 emergency response for severe weather, taken preventive measures and deployed dedicated patrols to monitor and control key areas prone to skidding.
To the west of Urumqi, the city of Shihezi has rolled out a tightly coordinated snow-clearing operation. Large plows move in teams of four to five to clear the main roads, while smaller machines handle the sidewalks. In areas inaccessible to equipment, sanitation are clearing snow manually.
The blizzard has disrupted both road and rail travel across Xinjiang.
Authorities said parts of major highways are under partial or full traffic control, with reopening times still uncertain.
Several passenger trains were also canceled starting Wednesday due to the severe weather.
At Urumqi's main stations, staff have placed anti-slip mats at entrances, exits and underground passages, and slightly raised waiting hall temperatures to keep travelers safe and comfortable.
The cold snap has caused minimum temperatures to drop to minus 10 to minus 15 degrees Celsius across much of Xinjiang, prompting authorities to prioritize heating supply.
In Urumqi, heating companies have adjusted system settings, boosted output and stepped up inspections to ensure reliable service.
Wang Yabin, instructor of deputy general manager at the Urumqi Huayuan Heating Co., Ltd., said that in response to the temperature drop, they have been gradually raising the temperature of the primary and secondary heating networks for the past two days to ensure indoor temperatures stay above 20 degrees Celsius.
The weather forecast predicted more snow in parts of Xinjiang over the coming days, with temperatures dropping to around minus 15 degrees Celsius, potentially affecting travel safety and daily life.
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