Over 500,000 utility customers were blacked out during the weekend storm and 170,000 still had no heat or lights Monday in Georgia State of the United States, reports reaching here said.

Many northern Georgia schools were closed Monday because they had no electricity. The Red Cross in the state opened seven shelters for people without heat and Georgia Governor Roy Barnes declared a state of emergency in 20 counties.

Meanwhile, thousands of people also lost power in South Carolina, North Carolina and Alabama States.

North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia each blame done traffic death on the weather. To the west, in Missouri State, 10 people were killed and 42 others injured in a fiery interstate pileup blamed on slick roads caused by another storm.

More rain fell in Georgia Monday but temperatures stayed above freezing. A winter storm warning was issued for parts of North Carolina.

Over 70,000 customers lost power in South Carolina. About 20,000 were blacked out in North Carolina but most were back in service by late Sunday. In northeast Alabama, some 30,000 residents were expected to remain without power until Tuesday. (Xinhua)