A sandstorm blowing into China has shrouded Beijing in smog and pushed its pollution to even more dangerous levels than usual. Children and elderly people have been advised to stay indoors, and dozens of flights have been canceled.
Sand and dust began blowing into Beijing from Mongolia and Inner Mongolia on Wednesday afternoon. It has since affected an area of up to 1.63 million sq km, according to China’s National Meteorological Center.
By Thursday afternoon, the city’s air quality index (AQI) jumped from under 100 to 621 – from “moderate” to “beyond index.” It went down slightly in the evening, but remained at “beyond index” levels.
Beijing government data showed that the average readings of PM2.5 – the smallest and most harmful particles in the air – had risen to 684 micrograms per cubic meter in parts of the city by Thursday afternoon – more than 27 times the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended exposure level over 24 hours.
Children and the elderly have been told to stay indoors, while drivers have been instructed to take extra precautions on the road.
Some 50 flights have also been delayed or canceled due to the low visibility.
