China says 29 killed, 800 injured in Inner Mongolia storms

Snowstorms that lashed China's northern Inner Mongolia region have killed 29 people and injured more than 800 others.

The storms have affected 1.64 million people and killed 220,500 livestock animals, a mainstay of the region's largely rural economy, the Xinhua News Agency says. Xinhua says the people froze to death.

More snow might fall later this week, "which may further worsen the situation," said Hao Yidong, a vice chairman of Inner Mongolia's regional government.

Wrapped up against the freezing cold, Vice Premier Wen Jiabao saw piled-up frozen sheep carcasses on an inspection tour of blizzard-hit areas last week.

Wen said local officials' top priority should be providing victims with clothes and food.

The government is allocating extra funds, grain and provisions to help alleviate the disaster.