China: Several Injured in 100-Car Pile-Up

Official media reported today, Friday, that "several people were injured after more than 100 cars collided with each other due to a frozen section of a highway in the Chinese city of Suzhou, in the latest accident caused by severe weather conditions." The official Xinhua News Agency stated that the government raised its emergency response to freezing temperatures this week and also initiated several plans to support the flow of transportation, supplies, and electricity in regions and cities including Beijing, Hebei, Shanxi, Anhui, and Hubei. The traffic police in the Suzhou industrial area announced on their WeChat account that "three people were injured and transported to the hospital, while six sustained minor scratches." In the past few weeks, large parts of China have experienced cold weather waves, snowstorms, and sleet, which have impacted transportation during a time when millions typically return to their hometowns to celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday.