China issues alert as snow strands travelers, prompts evacuations

BEIJING (CNN) - China issued a rare red alert Monday as brutal winter
weather continued to batter the country, stranding travelers and prompting
evacuations.

The heavy snow and sleet caused roofs to collapse and made traveling
treacherous, leading to 24 deaths, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Monday.

Some 827,000 people have been evacuated in 14 different provinces since January
10, the ministry said, and damages were estimated at 22 billion yuan ($3
billion).