The phenomenon is predicted to clear up gradually today, says CWB Taiwan News, Staff Writer
Page 1
2010-03-22 12:00 AM
Fonts Size: 
E-Mail This 
Printer-Friendly 
+ Enlarge This image 
With Taipei's Grand Hotel in the background, a crowd of marathon runners participate in the 2010 Taipei International Freeway Marathon amidst an increasing darkness of the unprecedented fierce dust storm which hits Taiwan all day yesterday. Taiwan News A total of 24 observation stations across the island recorded more than 1,000 micrograms of dust per cubic meter and a further ten showed values at damaging levels, according to the EPA. Skies turned a yellowish grey as there was no rain to wash away the dust, the Central Weather Bureau said.
The worst levels of pollution were recorded on the island of Matsu close to the coast of China's Fujian Province, in Keelung on the North Coast and in several Taipei City districts, EPA official Chu Yu-chi said. Matsu airport was closed all day due to poor visibility, reports said.
Doctors advised people to limit outside activities to the barest minimum, and to wear masks or even goggles when riding a motorcycle. Patients suffering from breathing problems even before the storm should wait a few days until after it had left before resuming normal outside activities, reports said.
The number of patients recording breathing problems increased by 20 percent to 30 percent because of irritation by the dust, reports said. People wearing contact lenses felt irritation of the eyes, according to media reports quoting physicians.
The storms expanded to Central and Southern Taiwan during yesterday afternoon, especially in areas close to the coast, the EPA said. Visibility in Taitung on the southeast coast was reduced to 5 kilometers, according to reports.
The Central Weather Bureau however predicted the phenomenon would clear up gradually during the day today. The dust storms combined with a cold front to cut temperatures by 7 degrees, the bureau said.
The next cold front from China was predicted to arrive Wednesday evening and to stay until early Saturday, though it was not immediately known whether it would bring more dust. That was dependent on the situation in Inner Mongolia and other regions in the Chinese interior over the next two days, forecasters said.
Really hazy this morning in Kaohsiung, too. The teacher at my son's school said the kids might not be able to play outside because of all the crud in the air. I feel sorry for those folks running the marathon in Taipei. They will need the "Lung Brush" for sure! (from SNL)
No comments:
Post a Comment