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Global

China's freak cold weather killed 107


    BEIJING (Reuters) - Freak cold and snow across the southern half of China over the past month killed 107 people and caused $15.4 billion (7.9 billion pounds) in direct economic losses, Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday.

    The freezing weather downed power lines, triggered a seriesof road accidents and left millions headed home for the LunarNew Year holiday stranded.

    Direct economic losses from the disaster as of Tuesdaystood at 111 billion yuan (7.9 billion pounds), Xinhua newsagency said, quoting Minister of Civil Affairs Li Xueju.

    As power supplies and transport get back to normal, PremierWen Jiabao on Wednesday warned of an "arduous task" for thehardest-hit areas to recover.

    "Some major power grids have yet to be repaired. Thestraining of coal supplies for electricity plants has not beenfundamentally resolved," Wen told a cabinet meeting.

    "Crops in the disaster areas were ruined en masse and manypeople face serious livelihood difficulties," Wen said inremarks posted on the central's government Web site(www.gov.cn).

    Wen ordered greater coal production, stable food and petrolsupplies and subsidies for spring sowing to help farmers.

    (Reporting by Guo Shipeng; Editing by Nick Macfie andSanjeev Miglani)