Sandstorm sends pollution in Beijing to maximum level | Al Jazeera

Beijing was shrouded in thick brown dust that sent pollution levels soaring on Monday morning, as heavy winds brought in sand from Inner Mongolia and other parts of northwestern China.

The China Meteorological Administration announced a yellow alert on Monday morning, saying that the sandstorms had spread from Inner Mongolia into the provinces of Gansu, Shanxi and Hebei, which surrounds Beijing. It advised residents to avoid all outdoor activities.

Beijing’s official air quality index reached a maximum level of 500 on Monday morning, with floating particles known as PM10 reaching more than 8,100 micrograms per cubic metre in six parts of the city, according to the state-run tabloid Global Times. Visibility was reduced to between 300 (984 feet) and 800 metres (2,624 feet),  state media reported.

Readings of PM2.5, smaller particles that infiltrate the lungs, were also approaching 300 micrograms per cubic metre, far higher than China’s standard of 35 micrograms.

Beijing faces regular sandstorms in March and April as a result of its proximity to the enormous Gobi desert as well as deforestation throughout northern China.

Beijing and surrounding regions have been suffering from relatively high levels of pollution in recent weeks, with the city also shrouded in smog during the opening of parliament starting on March 5.  

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 Os moradores de Pequim estão enfrentando uma das piores tempestades de areia em uma década.

 O fenômeno foi causado por fortes ventos vindos da região autônoma chinesa da Mongólia Interior, que fica próxima à capital chinesa. 

Mas por que o céu ficou laranja?

 Pequim fica próxima ao deserto de Gobi, que teve sua areia carregada pelo vento. Além disso, a região norte do país sofre com o desflorestamento e a erosão do solo, que pioram o problema. 

Na Mongólia, há relatos de ao menos seis mortes e dezenas de desaparecidos por causa dessas tempestades.