Worst sandstorm in a decade hits Beijing

China is experiencing the most severe sandstorm in a decade as 12 provinces in the northern part of the country are blanketed in yellow sand and dust, according to a notice issued by China’s National Meteorological Centre on Monday.

China Meteorological Administration this morning, said sandstorms had spread from Inner Mongolia into the provinces of Gansu, Shanxi and Hebei, which surrounds Beijing.

The National Meteorological Centre issued a “yellow” sandstorm warning on Monday morning, the second to last in China’s four-tier colour-coded weather warning system, reminding the public in the affected regions to close doors and windows and wear masks and scarves to protect themselves. It also warned the sandstorm would likely last through Monday.

Beijing faces regular sandstorms in March and April due to its proximity to the massive Gobi desert as well as deforestation and soil erosion throughout northern China.

Heavy sandstorms also hit neighbouring Mongolia, with at least 341 people reported missing, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua.

China has been trying to reforest and restore the ecology of the region to limit how much sand is blown into the capital.

Beijing has planted a “great green wall” of trees to trap incoming dust, and has also tried to create air corridors that channel the wind and allow sand and other pollutants to pass through more quickly.

The environment ministry said last year that the situation had improved, with the first storms now arriving much later in the year and not lasting as long as they did a decade ago.

MTO/Reuters