Factories shut and building sites suspended as Beijing fights back against 'hazardous' smog

More than 100 factories in Beijing were forced to shut or cut emissions and all construction work was suspended as the capital fought back against heavy smog choking the city for the third day.

The Air Quality Index in the city stood at 369 at 10am on Friday, remaining at the highest “hazardous” pollution level. A reading of over 300 is considered severe pollution.

Following the orange heavy pollution alert – the second highest – issued by authorities around noon on Thursday, 35 factories in the Beijing area were shut down and another 74 ordered to cut emissions by at least 30 per cent.

All construction and demolition work in the capital was suspended and trucks carrying earth and gravel were kept off road. Construction sites were ordered to be covered and frequently sprayed with water to reduce dust.

In Beijing’s Haidian district, a construction site that failed to comply with the measures was fined 20,000 yuan, the Beijing Times reported. Local officials found three excavators working on site during an unannounced check, and piles of exposed earth and gravel.

Fines totalling 33,500 yuan were handed out to drivers of earth and gravel trucks still on the road despite th ban.