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Chinese city paralysed by smog Chinese city paralysed by smog
(35 minutes later)
Choking smog has all but shut down one of north-eastern China's largest cities, forcing schools to suspend classes, blocking traffic and closing the airport in the country's first major air pollution crisis of the winter.Choking smog has all but shut down one of north-eastern China's largest cities, forcing schools to suspend classes, blocking traffic and closing the airport in the country's first major air pollution crisis of the winter.
An index measuring PM2.5, or particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres, reached a reading of 1,000 micrograms per cubic metre in some parts of Harbin, the gritty capital of north-eastern Heilongjiang province and home to some 11 million people. A level above 300 is considered hazardous, while the World Health Organisation recommends a daily level of no more than 20. An air quality index measuring PM2.5, or particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres, reached a reading of 1,000 micrograms per cubic metre in some parts of Harbin, the gritty capital of north-eastern Heilongjiang province and home to some 11 million people. A level above 300 is considered hazardous, while the World Health Organisation recommends a daily level of no more than 20.
The smog not only forced all primary and middle schools to suspend classes on Monday, but shut the airport and some public bus routes, the official Xinhua news agency reported, blaming the emergency on the first day of the heating being turned on for winter. Visibility was reportedly reduced to 10 metres and the smog was expected to continue for the next 24 hours.The smog not only forced all primary and middle schools to suspend classes on Monday, but shut the airport and some public bus routes, the official Xinhua news agency reported, blaming the emergency on the first day of the heating being turned on for winter. Visibility was reportedly reduced to 10 metres and the smog was expected to continue for the next 24 hours.
Air quality in Chinese cities is of increasing concern to the country's stability-obsessed leadership because it plays into popular resentment over political privilege and rising inequality in the world's second-largest economy.Air quality in Chinese cities is of increasing concern to the country's stability-obsessed leadership because it plays into popular resentment over political privilege and rising inequality in the world's second-largest economy.
Domestic media have run stories describing the expensive air purifiers government officials enjoy in their homes and offices, alongside reports of special organic farms so the elite can avoid the recurrent food safety scandals in the country.Domestic media have run stories describing the expensive air purifiers government officials enjoy in their homes and offices, alongside reports of special organic farms so the elite can avoid the recurrent food safety scandals in the country.
The government has announced plans over the years to tackle pollution but has made little apparent progress.The government has announced plans over the years to tackle pollution but has made little apparent progress.
Users of China's popular Twitter-like Sina Weibo microblogging site reacted with both anger and bitter sarcasm over Harbin's air pollution.Users of China's popular Twitter-like Sina Weibo microblogging site reacted with both anger and bitter sarcasm over Harbin's air pollution.
"After years of effort, the wise and hard-working people of Harbin have finally managed to skip both the middle-class society and the communist society stages, and have now entered a fairyland society!" wrote one user."After years of effort, the wise and hard-working people of Harbin have finally managed to skip both the middle-class society and the communist society stages, and have now entered a fairyland society!" wrote one user.
Other parts of north-eastern China also experienced severe smog, including Tangshan, two hours east of Beijing, and Changchun, the capital of Jilin province which borders Heilongjiang.Other parts of north-eastern China also experienced severe smog, including Tangshan, two hours east of Beijing, and Changchun, the capital of Jilin province which borders Heilongjiang.
Last week, Beijing city released a colour-coded alert system for handling air pollution emergencies, to include temporarily stopping construction work, factory production, outdoor barbecues and the setting off of fireworks.Last week, Beijing city released a colour-coded alert system for handling air pollution emergencies, to include temporarily stopping construction work, factory production, outdoor barbecues and the setting off of fireworks.
Beijing suffered its own smog emergency last winter when the PM2.5 surpassed 900 on one particularly bad day in January.Beijing suffered its own smog emergency last winter when the PM2.5 surpassed 900 on one particularly bad day in January.
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