Barely two weeks after this winter's first heavy
fog hit most parts of China on December 2, many people's travel
plans were stymied again on Tuesday as another loomed over several
cities.
Dense fog has affected Shanghai since Saturday. At
7:06 AM on Monday, the local meteorological station forecast
visibility would drop below 50 meters in some suburban areas
including Baoshan, Minhang and Jiading.
At least 40 flights were delayed on Monday at
Hongqiao Airport, though flights in and out of Pudong Airport were
not affected. Major expressways linking Shanghai to other provinces
were closed as well.
The fog also affected water transportation in
Shanghai. Four water passages in the Songjiang and Minhang
districts were closed from 5:30 to 7:10 AM on Monday.
In Chengdu, capital of Sichuan
Province, heavy fog delayed more than 30 flights and laid over
several thousand passengers at Shuangliu Airport, where visibility
was less than 100 meters at 3:00 AM.
Sources with the city's meteorological station said
the airport was the worst affected region in the thick fog that was
shrouding most parts of Chengdu.
The local road transport authorities closed all
major expressways early in the morning, including the expressways
linking Chengdu with neighboring Chongqing
Municipality, and the cities of Ya'an, Mianyang and
Nanchong.
Beijing temporarily closed its suburban sixth ring
road early on Tuesday as visibility dropped below one kilometer.
Two expressways linking the capital with neighboring Tianjin
Municipality and Hebei
Province were also partially closed.
Officials from Beijing's Transportation Bureau said
road traffic in the city proper was largely unaffected, though more
people were opting to travel by bus or subway instead of driving
their own cars.
The public bus company and subway operator were
ready to provide more buses and trains when passenger numbers
increase during rush hour, sources with the bureau told Xinhua News
Agency.
There were no reports of flight cancellations or
delays at the capital's airport, and railway authorities say all
incoming and outgoing trains are on time at the two major railway
stations. But meteorological experts predict the foggy weather will
linger a day or two, until a cold current dispels it on Thursday or
Friday.
The daily report on air quality in 47 major cities
released by the China Environmental Monitoring Station on Monday
said that particulates in the air of 19 cities have increased
drastically in the past three days.
As dense pollutants in the air can affect the
respiratory system, health experts have advised the elderly,
children and people with respiratory diseases to avoid outdoor
exercise and to wear masks.
(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2004)