The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Beijing

Millions of Chinese shivered through power cuts and water shortages on Wednesday and millions more were stranded by snow that has blanketed parts of central and southern China, raising concerns about their safety.

China dispatched the army Wednesday to help millions of people stranded by snowstorms that have caused transport gridlock, crippled power supplies and hindered relief efforts, state media reported.

At least 460,000 troops from the People's Liberation Army and paramilitary forces fanned out across parts of China where dozens of people have died amid the worst storms in 50 years.

"The People's Liberation Army has ordered its troops to go all out to help those battling the heavy snow in the southern part of the country," the China Daily said.

"The troops were ordered to give whatever assistance local governments required."

The health ministry also deployed about 14,000 medical personnel to treat the sick and injured in hard-hit areas, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

China is intensifying its efforts to deal with the punishing weather, which has caused chaos on the roads and rails just as millions of people swamp the country's transport system for the annual Lunar New Year travel exodus.

Xinhua said China was waging "all-out war" against the disaster as weather forecasters predicted still more blizzards and icy conditions into next week.