Severe sandstorms that have been plaguing China for more than a month are now spreading to nearby regions, with dust particles affecting air quality from South Korea to Japan.
Fine dust particles from the Gobi Desert have been increasing in South Korea and could reach “very unhealthy” levels in Seoul as soon as Tuesday afternoon, according to AirKorea, which is managed by the nation’s environment ministry. The sandstorms are forecast to reach Japan on Wednesday, affecting visibility in the central region that includes Tokyo, according to a forecast from the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The impact is spreading after sandstorms hit 18 provinces and cities in China Monday night. In the capital of Beijing, commuters biking home from work were caught off-guard by the sudden bursts of dusty wind, squinting to avoid grit stinging their eyes and having to wipe thin layers of yellow dirt from their faces when they got home. The storms became the most searched topic on Weibo, China’s Twitter.
It’s the latest in a series of severe dust storms to hit the nation’s capital since the beginning of March. Dry weather has amplified the impact, causing widespread fires torching grasslands in Mongolia and forests in China’s Sichuan province. The sandstorms are expected to leave Beijing behind by Tuesday night as they continue southward.
Fine dust particles from the Gobi Desert have been increasing in South Korea and could reach “very unhealthy” levels in Seoul as soon as Tuesday afternoon, according to AirKorea, which is managed by the nation’s environment ministry. The sandstorms are forecast to reach Japan on Wednesday, affecting visibility in the central region that includes Tokyo, according to a forecast from the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The impact is spreading after sandstorms hit 18 provinces and cities in China Monday night. In the capital of Beijing, commuters biking home from work were caught off-guard by the sudden bursts of dusty wind, squinting to avoid grit stinging their eyes and having to wipe thin layers of yellow dirt from their faces when they got home. The storms became the most searched topic on Weibo, China’s Twitter.
It’s the latest in a series of severe dust storms to hit the nation’s capital since the beginning of March. Dry weather has amplified the impact, causing widespread fires torching grasslands in Mongolia and forests in China’s Sichuan province. The sandstorms are expected to leave Beijing behind by Tuesday night as they continue southward.