Current wave of `yellow dust` disappearing

The ``yellow dust`` from China that has been plaguing the nation for the past five days has almost disappeared, meteorologists said Wednesday.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), a small amount of yellow dust showed up across the country at 8 a.m. but disappeared from most areas by the afternoon.

KMA officials said no dust was observed in Seoul, Inchon, Kwangju or Mokpo as of 9 a.m. and that visibility was restored to 12km in Seoul and 15km in Inchon, close to the levels for sunny days.

The problem was ongoing in eastern cities such as Chunchon, Sokcho, Pohang, Pusan and Cheju, but visibility in those areas also rose to 7 to 15km.

KMA predicted that the remaining yellow dust would soon disappear thanks to a continental high pressure front that is approaching the Korean Peninsula from north China.

``The yellow dust problem persisted for longer than usual due to the frequent arrival of low pressure systems and high winds, which carried the dust to Korea from inland China,`` said a meteorologist. He predicted that the nation would experience frequent yellow dust problems through April and May.

[Yonhap]