More than 400 mln people affected by sandstorm in China

At least 409 million people were affected by a sandstorm across 2.29 million square kilometers (0.9 million square miles) in China, the country's meteorological authorities said Tuesday. After originating from southern Mongolia, a 'heavy sandstorm' swept through the Chinese capital Beijing and other northern regions including Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, and Xinjiang provinces, China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration said, adding that it 'affected 15 provincial-level regions and a total of 409 million residents as of Tuesday morning.' China's National Meteorological Center (NMC) issued a 'blue alert' for sandstorms on Monday after at least eight sandstorms hit northern China since January. 'It is estimated that the sandstorm will recede in Beijing throughout Tuesday afternoon,' the Chinese daily Global Times reported, citing the administration. Meteorological authorities said: 'The sandstorm was triggered by strong winds that were generated by a localized cyclone and a ground-level cold front.' 'The rapidly rising temperature over the previous week provided thermal conditions for sand to be lifted off the surface in large quantities,' it said, adding the sparse rainfall in Mongolia and some areas in China 'have made conditions even more prone to sandstorm weather events.' This year, the NMC said: 'Northern China has experienced more frequent sandstorms than average compared to the recent 10 years.' Meanwhile, Chinese firefighters are engaged in 'preventing flames of a grassland fire in Mongolia from spreading across the China-Mongolia border.' Grassland fire from Mongolia had spread to the China-Mongolia border in the Xilin Gol League of Inner Mongolia in China. Local authorities dispatched 140 firefighters to the area who 'have successfully put out the fire along the border,' the Global Times reported.