A major sandstorm has swept through China’s Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province, causing severe air pollution. On Sunday, high winds whipped up the sandstorm in Xinjiang’s Aksu Prefecture, dropping visibility to less than 900 meters. The sandstorm has also disrupted road traffic and caused flight cancellations and delays.

In Korla County, the storm significantly slowed down traffic and caused residents to suffer breathing difficulties. The local meteorological department said that the sandstorm is expected to last through Monday. Another sandstorm coupled with winds of up to 70 kilometers per hour also hit Golmud County in Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province, disrupting traffic in several streets. FULL REPORT

 


Advertisement