Hazardous smog levels engulf Beijing and northern China: children and elderly warned to stay indoors
Capital's air-quality index, including hazardous PM2.5 particles hits 457 - deemed 'serious' - and danger set to continue until Wednesday
Residents in Beijing and neighbouring cities, particularly the elderly and children, have been warned to stay indoors because of hazardous levels of air pollution, mainland media reports.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection said heavy smog - including high levels of PM2.5 - the finest pollutant particles that can cause the greatest harm to public health - had developed on Friday and would continue until at least Tuesday across the capital and also heavily populated areas including the city of Tianjin , Hebei province, the western part of Shanxi province and the north of Henan province. However, conditions were expected to improve on Wednesday, the ministry said.
The smog was brought on by a combination of heavy pollution and adverse weather conditions, Xinhua reported.
Beijing's office for severe air-pollution emergency response issued a yellow alert, the second lowest level, at 2pm on Friday, and said the alert would remain in force until at least this morning, the reported.
Yesterday's air-quality index (AQI) reading in Beijing reached 457 in the southwest of the city, and more than 400 in several other parts of the capital.
China's AQI standard regards a reading of between 201 and 300 as "heavy pollution", and more than 300 as "serious".
Tang Ying, a tourist from Shenzhen, said: "I had heard that Beijing's air pollution was severe. But I never thought it was this bad. It's meaningless to live here, no matter how much I earn."
The office advised businesses and members of the public to immediately cut emissions and for all residents, especially the elderly and children, to stay indoors. It also warned schools not to hold outdoor activities.
The ministry said four groups of inspectors had been sent to the cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang and Langfang to check on authorities' efforts in battling air pollution.
It said local authorities should be well prepared for tackling serious air pollution levels, and asked them to initiate an emergency mechanism if necessary.
The inspectors will also check on the discharge of air pollutants by local industries, as well as dust-control measures at construction sites and the treatment of coal-burning pollution.
Earlier this month, air quality reached extremely hazardous levels in the city of Shenyang after winter central heating was turned on. Local authorities said the peak density of PM2.5 on November 8 was more than 1,200 micrograms per cubic metre.
