Yellow dust blankets Seoul, takes pollution to recent highs

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Yellow dust blankets Seoul, takes pollution to recent highs

Published: 12 Apr. 2023, 19:11 Updated: 13 Apr. 2023, 14:12

A view of Seoul from Namsan Tower in Yongsan District, central Seoul on Wednesday [NEWS1]

Korea was blanketed by the severe yellow dust that traveled from the Gobi Desert and Inner Mongolia on Wednesday. The situation is expected to continue until Friday morning.

The yellow dust density averaged 265 micrograms per cubic meter at 5 p.m., which is the highest level of dust pollution so far this year. The previous record was 125 on Jan. 7.

The Environment Ministry issued a "caution" level yellow dust alert in 17 cities and provinces Wednesday, including Gyeonggi and Incheon. This is the second level of the four-tier system.

These are areas where the pollution is above 300 micrograms per cubic meter and has remained so for more than two hours.

The government warning is triggered when the pollution is 150 micrograms per cubic meter or more.

Not only is this the first time that the yellow dust warning has been raised to the second level, but also a notch up from the lowest "monitor" level on Tuesday.

"I could hardly see the road in front of me this morning around 6 a.m. when I was going to work," a Seoul resident said.

Some people complained of itchy eyes, while others had a mild headache or sore throat. There were also cases of breathing difficulties.

On Wednesday, the Incheon Education Office advised schools to stop all outdoor classes. The dust level was as high as 323 micrograms per cubic meter in Gyeyang District, Incheon.

No schools reported suspending or cutting classes short because of the dust.

The Environment Ministry advised people "to avoid outdoor activities as much as possible," as ordered by the prime minister on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo ordered government agencies, including the Health Ministry and the Education Ministry, to take safety measures if needed.

The weather agency first observed yellow dust on Baengnyeong Island at 3:50 p.m. on Tuesday. The Environment Ministry issued a level one yellow dust alert as of 5 p.m. the same day.

Han told the government agencies to "promptly guide the public according to the yellow dust response manual to protect the health and safety of the people."

Han, in particular, advised the government agencies to either suspend or cut classes short, including pre-schools, if the pollution reaches a critical level.

According to the government's manual, people are recommended to wear masks or protective glasses when yellow dust advisories are issued. Educational institutions, including daycare centers and kindergartens, are recommended to consider finishing early or closing schools.

The area that had the worst dust level was Jeju, where it was 828 micrograms per cubic meter at 9 a.m. Although the level of dust had dropped to 289 by 5 p.m., it still was far above the national average.

By 5 p.m., the area that recorded the lowest fine dust was Jinju in South Gyeongsang.

Areas along the west coast, which is close to China, suffered high levels of dust pollution, including Seoul at 412. The levels on Ganghwa Island and Baengnyeong Island near Incheon were all above 300.

"Yellow dust storms were observed in most parts of the country, brought here by northwesterly winds from Inner Mongolia," the Korea Meteorological Administration said Wednesday.

"The yellow dust is very likely to affect the country until Monday morning."

"There is a possibility that it will take a longer time for the dust to dwindle as winds will become weaker over the week," according to an official at the National Institute of Environmental Research.

Dust traveled across the sea to Japan.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, yellow dust reached Tokyo for the first since May 2021. It is also the first time in 16 years that yellow sand was spotted in the Japanese capital in April.

BY LEE HO-JEONG,CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]