Beijing under red alert for smog - and it's going to get worse before it gets better

A batch of smog that prompted Beijing to issue its first red alert will hit its worst level today and linger until late tomorrow, meteorologists predict. The capital’s air quality index hit 400 yesterday evening, a level classified as “hazardous” and more than 100 higher than the highest level on Monday. The highest-level alert, which came into effect at 7am yesterday, prohibited half of all private cars and 30 per cent of municipal government cars from taking to the roads and caused public transport to become more crowded during rush hours, state broadcaster China Central Television reported. In addition to ordering primary and secondary schools to close, the municipal education bureau had prohibited outdoor sports at colleges and universities, said The Beijing News. READ MORE: Beijing air pollution: black humour and satire as capital is shrouded yet again in thick smog However, health warnings against outdoor activities were ignored by many residents and visitors. In the morning, hundreds of people, including toddlers, attended the flag-raising ceremony in Tiananmen Square. Some residents complained of the inconvenience caused by the red alert – particularly parents who had to prepare meals for children who were stuck at home due to the school closures. Many demanded the government take more drastic action to curb pollution, above existing measures such as closing factories and limiting traffic. “The winter in Beijing used to be very different. It’s true we did have cloudy skies in the old days but never this bad. Even the sandstorm days seem better in my memories,” said Deng Zhong, a 62-year-old retiree. I don’t really like the idea of having school days off because of air pollution. We are given more homework. Xing Xuechen, student The city government has been heavily criticised for not issuing a red alert when it was blanketed by smog for five consecutive days from November 27, during which the air quality index went beyond officially charted levels. This time, Beijing has made an all-out effort to enforce its prohibitions under the red alert – such as its ban on construction and restrictions on vehicle usage. After a meeting called by Environment Minister Chen Jining on Monday, 12 inspection teams were deployed to check the restrictions were being followed. In a public relations push, Beijing Mayor Wang Anshun has taken part in some inspections. I like Beijing ... The only thing I hate here is the smog Luo Jiangning, student Wang paid his respects to traffic police on Changan Avenue early yesterday morning and stopped a car that was violating the restrictions, reported Qianlong.com, a news website under the Beijing propaganda bureau. Under the restrictions, cars may use the roads only on alternate days, depending on the last number of their licence plate. Watch: Beijing slashes traffic under pollution red alert Wang reportedly asked if the driver had received any warnings about the restrictions, and asked him to check his mobile phone to read about the alert. I hope my son doesn’t need to be sent home because of bad air. He will have to catch up with the schoolwork later Feng Li, community volunteer Wang also checked a construction site and car parks at government buildings, and visited subway and bus stations. Photos on the bureau’s website showed neither Wang nor accompanying government officials were wearing masks. Bernhard Schwartlander, World Health Organisation representative in China, said that while it welcomed Beijing’s recognition of the hazardous air pollution by issuing a red alert, the threat to health should also be made clear. “In the short term, high levels of air pollution can cause health problems such as respiratory and breathing problems, and asthma attacks,” Schwartlander said. “People already prone to these kinds of health conditions, such as the very young and the very old, need to take particular care. “In the longer term, air pollution can cause heart disease, cancer – especially lung cancer – and chronic respiratory problems.” Ma Xuekuan at the National Meteorological Centre said on CCTV that Beijing and surrounding cities would continue to see frequent smoggy days for the rest of the year. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said yesterday Japan would closely monitor air pollution in Beijing and provide information for Japanese citizens living there, even though air pollutants had not shown a sharp increase in Japan, Kyodo news agency reported. Additional reporting by Nectar Gan and Reuters How Beijingers' view the red alert Feng Li, 38, community volunteer I hope my son doesn’t need to be sent home because of bad air. He will have to catch up with the schoolwork later no matter what reason he misses school. He had pneumonia a few years ago and now has difficulty breathing when the air is bad. He pants for no reason. I bought a purifier the other day because that’s the only thing we can do to control the air quality. The government needs a sound plan to treat air pollution. Some steel plants were moved but polluted air was blown back to town. The government must do something other than limiting the use of private cars. Xing Xuechen, 16, second-year high school student I don’t really like the idea of having school days off because of air pollution. We are given more homework. My parents and I wear masks whenever we go out. We don’t have air purifiers at home but we never open windows anymore. It’s very annoying. Sometimes we cancel plans with friends because the day was bad. I wish for more pollution control measures such as limiting the use of cars and shutting down polluting factories. My hope is pinned on the government treating the pollution. Most people have no other means but to stay here because their family members and friends are here. Eve Lin, 47, office worker We need to ask why we have to have our lives disrupted so much so that we can drive cars only on alternate days. It’s wrong to simply think we have to get used to bad air quality and not demand that more be done to solve the problem. The administration must do more. It’s not a simple case of putting on face masks and turning on my three air purifiers at home. My life is greatly affected by the red alert because my 15-year-old daughter is staying at home and I need to prepare meals for her. The government simply limits the use of cars and cuts emissions. School children are told to stay at home. What about us office workers? Luo Jiangning, 15, middle school student I like Beijing and it’s a very dynamic and convenient city. The only thing I hate here is the smog. We do wear masks when we go out. I like that we can have three days off school because of the bad air, but we can’t go out and have fun because of the pollution, which is real shame.