Toxic Dust Clouds Descend on Seoul

Toxic haze from China began blanketing the Seoul metropolitan area again on Tuesday evening.

The Korea Meteorological Administration said the dust blown over from Inner Mongolia reached the Korean Peninsula on northwesterly winds.

It hit Baeknyeong Island around 11 a.m. on Tuesday and the Seoul metropolitan area around 5 p.m. 

The concentration of fine dust particles (PM10) was "bad" at 138 ㎍/㎥ in Seoul as of 6 p.m. and that of ultrafine dust (PM2.5) was also "bad" at 74 ㎍/㎥.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government issued a smog alert at 8 p.m.

The Gyeonggi provincial government also issued an alert for eight cities in the northern area including Gimpo, Goyang and Uijeongbu at 7 p.m., and an hour later for five cities in the southern area including Pyeongtaek and Yongin.