Beijing faces year's worst smog, issues red alert

Beijing on Friday issued its second-ever red alert for smog as a new bout of air pollution is set to hit the city of over 22 million population from Saturday, days after the Chinese capital issued its first red alert following warnings from meteorologists.

On expected lines, the Beijing municipal heavy pollution emergency response headquarters issued the red alert, the most serious level which will last from 7 am on Saturday to 12 noon on Tuesday, limiting vehicles on roads according to odd-even licence plate numbers.

The regulations also ban fireworks and outdoor barbecue using coal.

Parts of north China will see the worst smog so far this year, the National Meteorological Centre said on Friday.

The air pollution will be worse than the spell between December 6 and 9, its forecast said. Under this, visibility in Beijing and some neighbouring regions will be reduced to less than one kilometre.

The density of PM2.5, particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres used to measure air quality, in some of the regions will exceed 500 microgrammes per cubic metre.

The World Health Organisation's recommended maximum is 25 mg per cubic metre.

Citizens were advised to reduce outdoor activities and kindergartens, and primary and middle schools are expected to suspend classes during the alert.

Earlier, Beijing issued a red alert for air pollution on December 7, the first-ever since the emergency response system was created in October 2013, after the worst period of air pollution this year when PM 2.5 reached the top of the scale at 500.

Coal-burning and car emissions are some of the major sources of air pollution.

In winter, an increase in coal-burning for heating in north China and still weather often exacerbate other forms of pollution and create periods of heavy smog lasting for days.