The most 'intense' sandstorm in a decade has turned Beijing's sky orange. See the eerie images.
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY
·1 min read
The worst sandstorm in a decade choked China's capital city of Beijing on Monday, raising health concerns, snarling traffic and forcing hundreds of flights to be canceled.
The storm caused an unprecedented spike in air pollution measurements – with pollution levels in some districts at 160 times the recommended limit, according to the according to the BBC.
Schools had been told to cancel outdoor events, and those with respiratory diseases advised to stay indoors, AFP said.
The National Meteorological Center said Monday’s storm had developed in the Gobi Desert in the Inner Mongolia Region.
“This is the most intense sandstorm weather our country has seen in 10 years, as well as it covering the broadest area,” the center said in a post on its website.
Take a look at these stunning photos from the sandstorm:
Cars drive along an expressway amid a sandstorm during the morning rush hour in Beijing on Monday, March 15, 2021. The sandstorm brought a tinted haze to Beijing's skies and sent air quality indices soaring.
A man walks near the entrance of the Forbidden City during a sandstorm in Beijing on March 15, 2021.
Buildings are seen in the central business district of Beijing during a sandstorm on March 15, 2021.
People wear protective masks as they commute during the sandstorm in Beijing, China. The Chinese capital and the northern parts of the country was hit with a sandstorm on Monday, sending air quality indexes of PM 2.5 and PM 10 ratings into the thousands and canceling flights.
A woman wears a protective mask as she shields herself in heavy winds while commuting during a sandstorm on March 15, 2021, in Beijing, China.
People wear protective masks as they commute during a sandstorm on March 15, 2021 in Beijing, China.
A woman walks by office buildings amid a sandstorm during the morning rush hour in the central business district in Beijing, Monday, March 15, 2021. The sandstorm brought a tinted haze to Beijing's skies and sent air quality indices soaring on Monday.
Commuters walk along a sidewalk amid a sandstorm during the morning rush hour in the central business district in Beijing, Monday, March 15, 2021.
People walk across a street as capital city is hit by polluted air and sandstorm in Beijing, Monday, March 15, 2021.
Our final 2024 mock draft projects four quarterbacks in the first five picks, but the Cardinals at No. 4 might represent the key pivot point of the entire board.
Trump is entitled to an additional 36 million shares if the company's share price trades above $17.50 "for twenty out of any thirty trading days" over the next three years.
Dan Wetzel, Ross Dellenger & SI’s Pat Forde react to the huge performance this weekend by Texas QB Arch Manning, Michigan and Notre Dame's spring games, Jaden Rashada entering the transfer portal, and more
Ford offers the new Mustang's updated 5.0-liter Coyote V8 as a crate engine, and it also sells a supercharger kit that unlocks a total of 810 horsepower.
Vincent Goodwill and Amin Elhassan react to (just about) every Round 1 game of the NBA Playoffs after the first games have been played over the weekend.
