Thirty-eight people have died in recent days in northern China in snow storms and extremely cold temperatures.

The Chinese state media are calling the extreme weather conditions the worst in 60 years.

Many roads in the north are impassable. Train and air services have also been affected. Hundreds of flights to cities like Beijing and Xian have been scrapped.

Shanxi province has been worst hit. Here 24 people have been killed and 70 injured in road accidents on the treacherous roads. Altogether 500 road accidents have been recorded.

Photo: Extreme snow storms in China - EPA