Railway traffic in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in northwest China was disrupted when strong winds swept through the region on the morning of 20 December, stranding 19 passenger trains.

The gales affected trains to the east of the city of Hami on the Lanzhou-Urumqi railway, said a source from Urumqi Railways Administration.

Passengers were stranded for at least 12 hours, but the source said they were supplied with food and water.