Strong winds hit China – hundreds of flights are canceled
Hundreds of flights were canceled and several rail routes were interrupted in China, as strong on Saturday winds They hit Beijing and other northern areas.
By 11:30 (local time) on Saturday, 838 flights had been canceled at the two major airports in the capital, according to the Reuters news agency.
Strong winds in China
The gusts of the wind reaching 150 km/h – the strongest in the Chinese capital for more than half a century – will continue on the weekend, forcing the closure of sights and historical sites.
Millions of people were called upon to stay in their homes on Friday, while some state media warned that people weighing less than 50 pounds can be « easily seduced ».
People walk in Beijing while strong winds are hitting the country. Reuters/Tingshu Wang
The rail services, including the rapid transport line of the Airport Metro and certain high -speed rail routes, have been suspended. The parks were also closed, while some old trees were reinforced or pruned for preparation, but nearly 300 trees have already fallen into the capital, the Bbc.
Some vehicles suffered damage, but no injuries were reported, while in Beijing, most residents followed the advice of the authorities to stay in their homes after the city warned 22 million residents to avoid unnecessary trips.
Empty roads in Beijing
« Everyone in Beijing was really nervous about it. Today there is almost no man on the streets. However, it was not as serious as I had imagined, « a resident of the area said at the news agency Reuters.
« Due to the strong winds, all the flights scheduled for last night and today were canceled. So, I will probably close my flight again in a few days. Now I’m actually trapped in Beijing, « said a businessman from Zhejiang province who canceled his flight.
Emergency groups cut trees in the country’s capital. Reuters/Tingshu Wang
Strong winds come from a cold vortex over Mongolia, while Beijing issued the first orange alarm for strong winds for a decade, with the strongest of them expected on Saturday.
China measures the speed of winds on a scale ranging from level 1 to 17. A level 11 wind, according to China’s meteorological service, can cause « serious damage », while a level 12 winds brings « extreme disaster ».
The winds this weekend are expected to range from level 11 to 13, and conditions are expected to relax until Sunday.
