Smog shuts schools, highways and airports in China

Parts of Northern China are being severely affected by smog which has brought roads and flights to a standstill. Some schools were forced to close. The concentration of particles some of which are harmful have been measured to be almost 40 times above the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

The northern city of Harbin in Heilongjiang province was one of the worst areas affected with visibility reduced to below 50m. It is believed that the smog has come after many people switching on their heating systems for winter. All highways in the area and airport were forced to shut, with the police allowing drivers to drive through red lights in places when the traffic lights cannot be seen. China has had major problems with smog and pollution levels. They can be very harmful and affect health with the old and young being most at risk from the poor air quality.