Extreme weather continues to devastate large parts of China leaving dozens
missing and thousands stranded. Chinese scientists have blamed global warming
for the unusual weather conditions.

QINGHAI PROVINCE, XINJIANG PROVINCE, INNER MONGOLIA CCTV -

China has experienced extreme weather recently leaving thousands
stranded and at least 40 people missing. There have been devastating typhoons
and snow storms and floods bringing large parts of the country to a
standstill.
    Areas across northwestern China experienced heavy snow and blizzards in
recent days with temperatures dropping to around zero at a time of year when
most areas would have spring conditions.
    The blizzards forced roads, airports and railways to close since they
sarted late last week, stranding thousands, Xinhua added.
    Large areas Qinghai province have had heavy snow and in areas of Inner
Mongolia, temperatures dropped by 10 degrees yesterday evening.  
   Agriculture across the northwestern regions was seriously effected,
according to local media.
    Mud flows and strong winds caused by Typhoon Neoguri in south China's
Guangdong Province killed three people, Xinhua said on Monday (April 21).
    Two of the deaths happened in Shenzhen City, when a mud flow flooded a
section of road under construction. Another person was killed by a metal sheet
that was blown off a stadium roof by strong gales.
    Heavyy rain and high winds have caused chaos in the southern province
of Guangdong, a booming southern region resposible for much of China's
manufacturing. 
    Other southern provinces of Hunan, Fujian and Hebei also experienced
heavy rain and hailstorms.   
    Typhoon Neoguri left 40 Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen missing after
it caused high winds and violent seas off on the coast of China's Hainan
province on Friday (April 18).
    On Monday, a search operation was still under way for the 18 Chinese
and 22 Vietnamese fishermen who were still missing.
    Life saving boats and search helicopters were employed in the search
operation.
    China Meteorological Administration lifted the warning against typhoon
Neoguri on Saturday (April 19) afternoon because it weakened to a low pressure
as it moved northward.
    Typhoons, known in the West as hurricanes, are cyclonic storms which
draw strength from the warm waters of the South China Sea and regularly target
the Philippines, Japan, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong over the summer, sometimes
with catastrophic effect.
    The typhoon season in southern China usually starts in May.