Blue skies over Beijing again ... but Chinese meteorologists warn pollution will be back at weekend
Strong winds over capital helps disperse smog, which leads to first red alert for pollution being lifted at noon on Thursday
Drastic measures taken by Beijing over the past three days helped cut emissions by 30 per cent and stopped air pollution from worsening as north winds blew away the smog on Thursday.
A blue sky returned as the red alert, the highest of the four-tier air quality warning system, was lifted at noon. Students will return to school today and limits on the use of private cars have been partly eased.
In an open letter on its website, the Beijing municipal government “expressed heartfelt gratitude” to residents for their support and sacrifices in cutting air pollution after the red alert took effect on Monday morning following forecasts predicting three consecutive days of air quality index readings higher than 200. The environmental protection authority blamed the smog on the burning of coal and on car exhausts during unfavourable weather.
