Sandstorms, Severe Cold Snap In China Hit Nearly 900K Hectares Of Cropland, Orchards - Reuters

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BEIJING, April 21 (Reuters) - Sandstorms and plunging temperatures brought by a severe cold snap in northwest China have damaged crops, killed livestock and affected five million people, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.

Freezing weather since Thursday in northwestern Xinjiang had "wreaked havoc", causing an economic loss of about 5 billion yuan ($714 million), Xinhua said, citing local authorities.

"The disaster affected 473,733 hectares of crops, or 69 percent of the total in the region, and 411,466 hectares of fruit trees," the agency quoted Xinjiang vice-chairman Qian Zhi as saying. About 103,500 livestock were killed, and another 3.25 million "injured or lost," Qian said.

The regional government in predominantly Muslim Xinjiang, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan, had ordered authorities to step up relief efforts, Xinhua said.

EDIT

http://www.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUSPEK303639

[ensho]

1. wow - world food crisis is cranking up fast

nt

[GliderGuider]

2. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

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aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.... (deep breath)

Make it stop.
Just make it stop.

[hatrack]

3. Jane! Stop this crazy thing!

[phantom power]

4. It's a happy, happy earth-day present