中國北方遭沙塵暴襲擊

【新唐人2011年5月12日訊】5月11,12日，中國北部與東北地區連續兩天遭受嚴重沙塵暴襲擊，多個城市籠罩在一片黃沙當中，能見度不足200米，影響了地面交通與空中運輸。

沙塵暴在11日晚襲擊吉林和黑龍江兩省，帶來大量的浮塵，當地氣象局把空氣質量定為“危險”級，告誡居民緊閉門窗減少外出，非得外出時必須戴上口罩，做好防塵工作。

內蒙古自治區則出現入春以來第二場沙塵暴天氣，中、東部偏南地區出現強沙塵暴，全區平均降溫6到８攝氏度。部分城市籠罩在一片黃沙當中，能見度不到200米。

二連浩特(Erlianhot)與錫林浩特(Xilinhot)機場11日下午取消所有航班。

氣象預報顯示，12日晚會下點小雨，惡劣揚塵的天氣可望得到減緩。

新唐人記者賴瑞綜合報導。

CHANGCHUN, JILIN PROVINCE, CHINA (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (MAY 12, 2011) (CCTV - NO ACCESS CHINA)

1. VARIOUS OF BUILDINGS IN SANDSTORM

2. PEOPLE WAITING AT BUS STOP

3. PEOPLE BOARDING BUS IN SANDSTORM

4. PEOPLE WEARING MASKS IN SANDSTORM

5. VARIOUS OF CARS COVERED WITH SAND

6. CARS IN SANDSTORM

7. PEOPLE WALKING COVERING THEIR FACES

HARBIN, HEILONGJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (MAY 12, 2011) (CCTV - NO ACCESS CHINA)

8. PEOPLE WALKING IN SANDSTORM

9. SAND CLOUD COVERING SUN

10. BIRD FLYING PAST HAZY SUN

11. PEOPLE WALKING WEARING MASKS

12. WOMAN WALKING WEARING MASK

13. WOMEN WALKING AND COVERING THEIR MOUTHS

14. WOMAN WEARING MASK

HOHHOT, INNER MONGOLIA AUTONOMOUS REGION, CHINA (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (MAY 11, 2011) (CCTV - NO ACCESS CHINA)

15. VARIOUS CITY LANDSCAPES IN HEAVY SANDSTORM

16. VARIOUS OF CARS DRIVING IN SANDSTORM

17. VARIOUS OF TREES SWAYING IN SANDSTORM

18. CAR DRIVING PAST SWAYING TREES

19. VARIOUS OF CARS DRIVING IN SANDSTORM

Sand and dust storms hit a large portion of northern and northeastern regions in China for the second consecutive day on Thursday (May 12), blanketing cities in yellow clouds and disrupting transportation, state media reported.

The sandstorms hit Jinlin and Heilongjiang province in the northeast on Wednesday (May 11) night, carrying huge amounts of dust, state broadcaster CCTV said.

The local weather forecasting bureau rated the air quality "hazardous", and advised people stay home, keeping windows closed or wear masks if they have to go out, according to CCTV.

The harsh weather was expected to ease by Thursday evening as light rain, which can help clear dust in the air, was forecasted for the region, it added.

In Inner Mongolia, sandstorms covered some of its cities in orange clouds of dust reducing visibility to less than 200 meters (656 ft), CCTV said.

The swirling clouds of sand and dust forced airports in two cities, Erlianhot and Xilinhot, to cancel all flights for the afternoon on Wednesday.

Meteorological authorities expected temperatures in most of Inner Mongolia to drop by six to eight degrees because of the storms, CCTV reported.