Beijing Issues ‘Crazy Smog’ Alert

Self-imposed “house arrest” for N. China; potentially deadly consequences if they break the “curfew”

Heavy smog covers a massive area measuring 530,000 km² around Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, as hazardous air pollution chokes 31 cities, said CCTVNews.

A thick blanket of smog, containing potentially deadly pollution, covered 31 cities including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi and Henan on Sunday and Monday, prompting authorities to issue a ‘crazy smog’ alert.

Resident in Beijing and other affected cities have been advised to stay indoors.

Smog will persist in most parts of north China through Wednesday, said the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

Image source: http://aqicn.org/

Meanwhile,  the air quality in the Indian capital, New Delhi, also plunged into “hazardous” territory as thick smog choked the city, reducing visibility to about 100 meters.

Global Disaster Headlines – September 18, 2013

581 People remain unaccounted for in Colorado floods

The number of people unaccounted for in the Colorado floods was revised to 581 Tuesday,  according to the Colorado Office of Emergency Management.

Oil-field flood tally: 1,900 wells shut

A drilling derrick near Greeley stands in the flood waters of the South Platte River. (Photo By Tim Rasmussen/The Denver Post)

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Floods submerge Acapulco, death toll climbs, 40,000 tourists stranded

Mexico’s famous beach resort of Acapulco was in chaos on Tuesday as hotels rationed food for thousands of stranded tourists and floodwaters swallowed homes and cars after some of the most damaging storms in decades killed at least 55 people across the country.

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‘Orange Alert’ as extra-tropical cyclone hits Montevideo, Uruguay

Uruguayan authorities issued an Orange Alert as an extra-tropical cyclone battered the capital Montevideo, forcing the evacuations of hundreds of people along the coastal areas in the South Atlantic Ocean. The cyclone cut power to more than 3,000 homes in the region.

Original Caption: A wave hits the dam on the coastal avenue in front of the Rio de la Plata during the passage of the extra-tropical cyclone that affects the country, in Montevideo, capital of Uruguay, on Sept. 17, 2013. The Uruguayan authorities issued an orange alert for the next hours by the passage of extra-tropical cyclone that has already caused power shortage to more than 3,000 homes, and more than 600 people have been evacuated in various departments of the country. (Xinhua/Nicolas Celaya)

Related Links

• Colorado Disaster Zone Spreads across 17 Counties September 17, 2013

• Twin Storms Leave 42 Dead, 1.2 Million Battered September 17, 2013