KABUL: (MEP) Chinese authorities have declared red alerts for ten cities on Thursday, as large swathes of the country suffered through their fourth wave of choking pollution this month, state media reported.
Officials from the Chinese Environmental Ministry issued a statement Wednesday, saying the 10 cities with red alerts include the northeastern city of Tianjin as well as the smaller surrounding cities of Puyang, Xinxiang, Dezhou, Handan, Xintai, Langfang, Hengshui, Xinji and Anyang.
According to the statement, they were among 30 cities including the capital Beijing, seeing “severe pollution.” Another 20 cities were hit with “heavy pollution.”
The alerts follow Beijing’s decision earlier this month to issue for the first time the highest level warning in its four-tier system in response to scathing public criticism about the government’s handling of the chronic haze.
Red alerts trigger advisories for people to stay inside, schools to stop classes, and restrict vehicle use.
The move came in response to public criticism about the government’s handling of the chronic problem.
