Sandstorm covers Beijing, air pollution rises to dangerous levels

BEIJING, April 15 (UPI) -- Chinese authorities issued the third-most serious alert for a sandstorm that blanketed parts of Beijing on Wednesday.

Officials warned of a drop in visibility and of dangerous air pollution. Many parts of the capital city recorded air pollution readings of PM 10 with about 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter. The U.S. Embassy recorded readings of PM 2.5 particulates, considered to be the most dangerous, that were above 300 micrograms per cubic meter.

There was traffic congestion in most major districts of Beijing and authorities urged people to stay indoors.

"It's very dirty, I feel like it is the end of the world," one witness said, according to the South China Morning Post. "It feels like we are living in a desert. I wonder how we can survive such bad weather," another said.

Strong winds were expected during the sandstorm as Beijing's temperatures rise to the highest levels this year.