- By James Kravitz
- (General Dispatch) – The worst sandstorm, also known as Asian dust storm, covered 12 districts in northern China, leaving 6 dead and 80 people missing. A state-run media outlet China Global Television Network (CGTN) reported.
- Domestic and international flights were affected by the low visibility, delaying many flights, and outdoor activities were disrupted due to the severity of the sandstorm.
- According to a statement issued by the National Meteorological Center in recent years the sandstorm has intensified, the institute said that this type of phenomenon can be attributed to the high environmental pollution.
- Zhang Bihui representative of the national meteorological center reported that the sandstorm came from the Gobi desert of Mongolia where the sand particles were driven by the speed and power of the wind and thus covering a large number of districts in Beijing.
- “Many cities recorded a dramatic increase in air pollutants known as PM10, particles up to 10 micrometers in diameter that can cause respiratory diseases. In Beijing, concentrations exceeded 8,000 micrograms per cubic meter at some measuring stations, or about 100 times the city’s average reading,” said media outlet Sixth Tone.
- China has been trying to find measures to prevent this phenomenon from affecting the population to a large extent, but it has been complex due to the expansion of the capital, making it necessary for many inhabitants to move to these sites.
- Something that has contributed to this phenomenon is open-pit mining and excessive agriculture, which has further affected the environment, causing the capital to suffer from this type of natural phenomenon.
Adittional Information:
Breitbart: China’s Worst Sandstorm in a Decade Covers 12 Provinces in Yellow Dust
Yahoo News: Flights canceled during China’s worst sandstorm in a decade
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