S. Korea hit by worst sandstorm of the year

The worst yellow dust storm this year blanketed the Korean Peninsula on Sunday as winds continue to bring a thick layer of dust from the desert areas in northeastern China.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) posted a yellow dust advisory for five northwestern islands, as well as all central and southern provinces, including Jeju.

A preliminary advisory was issued for Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, Gangwon Province, Ulleung Island and the Dokdo islets in the East Sea in the afternoon.

The agency issues a yellow dust advisory if the hourly average dust concentration is more than 400 micrograms per cubic meter and is expected to continue for two hours. The highest-level of yellow dust warning is issued if a concentration of more than 800 micrograms per cubic meter per hour is expected to continue for two hours.

As of 2 p.m., the dust density was measured at 489 micrograms per cubic meter in Gwangju, 463 micrograms in Jeonju, 419 micrograms in Jeju and 411 micrograms in Jinju.

The density was 326 micrograms in Cheonan, 318 micrograms in Gunsan, 311 micrograms in Yeongwol and 259 micrograms in Baengnyeong Island. In Seoul, the dust level was measured at 167 micrograms, according to the agency.

The advisory is likely to be raised to the highest-level warning as winds will bring more dust clouds to the peninsula, the KMA said.

"Elderly citizens and respiratory disease patients should take special caution as the yellow dust is forecast to continue nationwide until tomorrow," a KMA official said.

Meanwhile, North Korea issued this year's first yellow dust warning on Saturday, according to a report by the Korean Central Broadcasting Station, a state-run radio service.

On Sunday, the country's official Korean Central News Agency

(KCNA) said the dust warning was in effect for the second consecutive day.

"The yellow dust was observed on the Korean Peninsula and is expected to become stronger from the afternoon, and the density was about 500 micrograms per cubic meter," the KCNA said. It did not, however, specify when and where the density was measured.

(Yonhap News)