The
Chinese capital will see hazardous smog from Saturday until Tuesday, the
Beijing Meteorological Service said. Nationwide, a vast area from Xian in
central China to Harbin in the north-east would also be affected, the National
Meteorological Centre said.
The
alert triggers restrictions on vehicle use, factories and building.
The government has
promised to take action to address often dangerous levels of pollution.
Meteorological
authorities have said that the regional smog is likely to be worse than the
last red alert earlier this month, with the PM2.5 pollution level to exceed 500
micrograms per cubic metre. The smog which hit Beijing on 8 December had peaked
just below 300. Residents are encouraged to stay indoors if levels exceed that
level.
The
World Health Organization recommends 25 micrograms per cubic metre as the
maximum safe level.
Authorities
released a map showing that heavy smog would blanket a swathe of the country
spanning nearly 2,000km (1,200 miles), encompassing at least 12 major cities, with
Beijing and nearby city Shijiazhuang heaviest hit.
The other cities
would experience medium or lesser levels of smog.
The news was
greeted with exasperation and worry among Chinese citizens online. "Here
we go again!" said Weibo user. "I really don't know what the
government is doing? It can predict the smog but not take the appropriate
measures beforehand, rather it's letting the smog harm citizens," said
Beijingpuer.
The
current four-level alert system was instituted about two years ago, although
the red alert had never been issued until this month.
Coal-powered
industries and heating systems - in heavy use during the cold Beijing winter -
are major contributors to the smog, which is made worse by weather conditions
and the city's geography.
Beijing is bordered
to the south and east by industrial areas that generate pollution, and to the
north and west by mountains that trap it over the city. China still depends on
coal for more than 60% of its power, despite big investments in renewable
energy sources.
Earlier
this month China was part of the landmark Paris climate change agreement that
set a course for China, and the world, to move away from fossil fuels in the
long term.