Sandstorm hits Beijing and northern China

It is the eighth sandstorm to hit the Chinese capital so far this year, marking the most active spring storm season in a decade

A severe sandstorm has cloaked Beijing and China’s northeastern regions for the fourth time in a month forcing some residents to stay indoors to protect themselves from dense air pollution.

Images showed the Chinese capital engulfed in a cloud of orange haze on Monday which hung thick in the air into Tuesday, though conditions have begun to ease.

Beijing authorities told children and the elderly to stay indoors, and healthy adults were advised to refrain from outdoor activity. Residents were also reminded to keep their windows shut and wear masks and face shields.

As of Tuesday morning, Beijing’s real-time air quality index was 500, indicating severe pollution, with PM10 being the primary pollutant.

“The frequency of sandstorms this year, compared with other spring seasons, marks the highest for Beijing in the past decade,” said Ma Jun, director of the Institute for Public and Environmental Affairs, a non-profit environmental research firm.