Epoch Times - Worst Sandstorm in a Decade Blankets Beijing and Northern China | Epoch News | China Insider
Aired: 2021-03-18
Duration: 01:16


=== Beijing's Unreal Sandstorm (01:15) ===

[00:00:00]  Beijing was choked by thick dust on March 15, as a massive sandstorm hit the city in the morning.
[00:00:07]  Drivers struggled amidst high winds and low visibility.
[00:00:11]  According to China's National Meteorological Center, twelve provinces in northern China were affected.
[00:00:18]  This is the worst sandstorm our country has experienced in ten years, as well as covering the largest area, it said.
[00:00:26]  Hundreds of outbound flights at Beijing's airports were cancelled.
[00:00:30]  The entire city, cloaked in orange haze, looked unreal.
[00:00:34]  In fact, Beijing's residents were already complaining about air pollution before the arrival of the record-breaking sandstorm.
[00:00:41]  The city's atmospheric particulate matter rating reached 2.5, its most hazardous level since early March.
[00:00:48]  During China's two sessions annual political meetings on March 4th and 5th, Beijing issued a severe air pollution warning for heavy smog.
[00:00:57]  The smothering smog lasted more than 10 days until it was replaced by the sandy dust on March 15th.
[00:01:05]  Last year, the two sessions began on May 21st.
[00:01:09]  Shortly after the meeting started at 3pm, Beijing's sky suddenly turned black, along with lightning bolts and heavy hail.