Equipment failure cuts off heat supplies in NE China city

HARBIN, Dec. 25 (Chinese media) -- An equipment failure cut off heat supplies in

parts of Qiqihar City, one of the coldest regions in northeast China's

Heilongjiang Province, and left at least 10,000 families shivering on Christmas

Eve, the city government said on Thursday.

The failure was detected Wednesday night at Qiqihar Thermal Power Co. Ltd,

and affected residential houses with a total floor space of 5.4 million square

meters in Jianhua District, a government spokesman told Chinese media.

He said the city government had organized delivery of hot-water bags,

electric blankets and heaters to local residents.

According to the thermal power company, the problem occurred with its

coal-feeding system.

A company spokesman said the system was repaired overnight and by 7 a.m.

Thursday, heating supply resumed in more than half of the affected area.

Local weather forecast says the minimum temperature in Qiqihar was minus 25

degrees Celsius Wednesday night and Thursday's maximum was minus 13.