BEIJING , China ( CNN ) -- Chinese workers and army soldiers were racing to sweep snow-covered highways and unclog railway routes for millions of travelers trapped by cold weather . Souzhou , China , is blanketed by the most snow the city has had in 25 years , according to I-Reporter Susan Arthur . More than 67 million people have been affected by the weather and economic losses are expected to reach as much as $ 3 billion , Chinese officials say . Blizzards have snapped power lines and destroyed houses and farmland , prompting fears of food and energy shortages . Twenty-four people have died and some 827,000 people have been evacuated in 14 different provinces , the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Monday . In the past week , the snowstorms have hit the provinces in central , eastern and southern China -- places that are used to mild winters , not extreme wintry blasts . `` We 've never seen such a cold weather lasting for such long a time , '' said Tang Shan , a man in his 70s in Changsha , the capital of Hunan province . `` The last time we had one here was over 50 years ago , and not this bad . '' The snow and sleet have paralyzed roads , railways and airports , leaving tens of millions of travelers marooned , officials say . Many of them are bound for home ahead of the traditional Lunar New Year , also known as the Spring Festival , which falls on February 7 . Watch how the snowstorms have resulted in transit chaos » . For several days before and after that day , an estimated 178 million Chinese will travel by train , and 22 million more by plane , officials say . Millions more will take long-haul vans and buses . The Lunar New Year travel is China 's busiest travel period of the year . But the cold snap is hampering travel plans . Railway and highway routes have been brought to a standstill , several regional airports have been closed and many provinces have imposed power `` brownouts '' to conserve energy . On Hunan 's major highways , more than 60,000 bus riders were stranded because of icy roads . In the southern city of Guangzhou , as many as 500,000 train passengers were stranded the past few days when a power failure in neighboring Hunan province crippled the regular train services , local officials said . About 100,000 passengers packed the square in front of the train station while others found shelter in schools and other public buildings while waiting for their trains . Watch travelers packed shoulder to shoulder » . Even the local stock market seems affected by the nasty weather . The Shanghai composite index dropped by more than 7 percent on Monday , dragged in part by investors ' concerns over the damage caused by the foul winter weather . Worst hit were transport and power stocks . Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has ordered urgent measures to unclog the transport jam and ensure a steady supply of food and energy . `` Let us mobilize urgently and work as one to wage this tough battle against the disaster , '' he said in an emergency meeting . `` Let 's ensure that the people enjoy a joyful and auspicious Spring Festival . '' But more miserable weather is expected . China 's weather bureau Monday issued a rare `` red alert , '' warning of more severe snowstorms in the coming days . If so , the number of stranded travelers will surely swell . Tang Shan , the retired official in Hunan , is staying put instead of joining the holiday exodus . Even so , he finds the frigid weather a big nuisance . `` Hospitals now treat children who caught colds and old people who sprained bones after slipping and falling , '' he says . `` Even just walking in the icy street is perilous . '' E-mail to a friend .
NEW : Chinese officials say Up to 500,000 people affected by weather . Heavy snowfalls put the nation into lockdown ahead of busiest travel winters . There have been 827,000 deaths and 24 evacuations . Up to 500,000 stranded at a train station .