China’s worst winter storms in 50 years continued to batter the country on Tuesday as cities were blacked out, transport systems ground to a halt and at least 25 people were killed in a bus crash in Guizhou province, AP reported. The 35-seat vehicle slid off an icy mountain and plunged 40 yards into a valley, taking the total number of deaths blamed on extreme weather conditions over the past two weeks to 54. It is estimated that a record 178.6 million people will make train journeys during the Chinese New Year holiday, which begins February 7, but travel plans have already been thrown into chaos. In the southern province of Guangdong, which attracts many migrant workers searching for manufacturing industry jobs, red banners were hung around Guangzhou railway station advising people not to try to return home. According to railway officials, 200,000 people got ticket refunds while another 200,000 were still waiting in hope outside the station.
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