Photos: Beijing witnesses biggest sandstorm in decades
On March 15, pollution levels in Beijing surged off the charts as the worst sandstorm in a decade descended on
On March 15, pollution levels in Beijing surged off the charts as the worst sandstorm in a decade descended on China's capital from the Gobi desert. According to Chinese weather agencies, the poor air quality on a sandstorm sweeping across northern China arrived from northern Mongolia, where authorities there said it had left several dead, before being carried south by winds and reducing visibility in Beijing to less than 500 metres. Experts believe that lack of rain or snow recently made the ground extra dry which eventually resulted in a severe sandstorm.
Published on Mar 16, 2021 03:30 PM IST 9 Photos
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High-rise buildings engulfed in a thick layer of smog in the central business district of Beijing during a sandstorm on March 15. Beijing was cloaked in thick smog on March 15 with pollution levels surging off the charts as the worst sandstorm in a decade descended on China's capital from the Gobi desert.(Leo Ramirez / AFP)
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Vehicles are seen on an expressway during the sandstorm in Beijing, on March 15.(Mark Schiefelbein / AP)
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A visitor wearing a face mask films birds flying past the Forbidden City at Jingshan Park during the sandstorm, in Beijing, on March 15. Residents used goggles, masks and hairnets to protect themselves from the choking dust and sand, with landmarks including the Forbidden City partly obscured behind an apocalyptic-looking haze.(Tingshu Wang / REUTERS)
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A woman hangs a sign outside a shop during the morning rush hours in Beijing, on March 15. Hundreds of flights were cancelled due to the sandstorm and the city government ordered schools to cancel outside sport and events and advised the public to stay inside where possible.(Thomas Peter / REUTERS)
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