After strong dust storms over the weekend weather experts issued a rare level five pollution warning on Sunday advising residents to stay indoors.
With a dust density of roughly 2,8-hundred micrograms per cubic meter the Korea Meteorological Administration said Saturday's storm was the worst to hit the country since it began recording dust storm data in 2003.
On Saturday tons of yellow dust was also dumped on Chinese capital Beijing as a sandstorm caused by a severe drought in the north and Mongolia swept through the city.
[Interview : Shen Lin, Beijing Resident
] "When I woke up this morning and looked outside the window, I saw that the sky was grey. It looked very unpleasant. I can feel a lot of dust in the air when walking outside. It is very uncomfortable."
China's state-run Xinhua News Agency says another severe sandstorm is slated to hit northwestern China on Monday this time with stronger winds and more sand.
Yellow dust storms carry traces of heavy metals which can cause respiratory and health problems especially for infants and elderly people.
Also weather experts say sandstorms are largely attributed to China's rapid industrialization deforestation. and desertification of the country's west and the Mongolian steppes.
Spring sandstorms have gotten worse in recent years reaching as far away as South Korea and Japan as well as turning rain and snow yellow.
Yang-Jiwoo, Arirang News.
MAR 21, 2010
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