Over 22,000 people have been evacuated from Guizhou province in China as persistent freezing rain lashed the region destroying more than 200 homes and disrupting vehicular traffic. A spokesman with the provincial emergency response office said, more than 208 homes collapsed as roofs could not bear the weight of accumulated ice as rain froze in the sub-zero temperature. The icy rain also damaged 1,455 more roofs. The icy weather and sleet also blocked highways leaving thousands stranded in their cars as almost all expressways in the province were closed. Meanwhile, more than 79,100 hectares of crops were also damaged by the freezing rain.