Beijing Smog Red Alert

Schools and businesses in Beijing were completely shut down as the first ever extreme smog warning was issued in the Chinese capital.

18:15 08 December 2015

Beijing has issued its first ever "red alert" over the city's smog, forcing schools and businesses to completely shut down in an attempt to protect the people from the deadly air.

 

Smog levels are actually lower than they have been in recent weeks. However, authorities are expecting an extreme amount of pollution over the coming days and have imposed an order to ensure safety during that time.

 

The order will be enforced from Tuesday morning until Thursday afternoon, local time.

 

In some parts of Beijing, people can only see around 200m. Air pollution monitors showed that some part of the Chinese capital had more than 256 micrograms per cubic metre of poisonous particles, which means that people could become ill simply from being outside.

 

The smog is blamed on burning of coal for industry and heating as well as huge amounts of dust from the city's many construction sites.

 

Last week, Greenpeace called on Beijing to issue a red alert.

 

“The city is blanketed in a thick, choking smog that has covered an area of North China the size of Spain and Beijing’s most famous landmarks have been completely obscured by the yellow haze,” wrote Zhang Kai on the group’s blog.