No Class for Elementary Schools by the Yellow Clouds

The worst yellow clouds (hwangsa) over the nation continued on yesterday.

According to the Ministry of Environment, the concentration of fine dust in Hannam-dong reached 2266 ㎍/㎥, which is the highest record in its history. The record is 15 times higher than the daily standard (150 ㎍/㎥) and 32 times higher than the annual environmental standard (70 ㎍/㎥).

Elementary schools and kindergartens in Seoul, Kyonggi, Daejon, Kyungnam, Chungcheong areas closed yesterday. Seoul Education Center decided to extend the school closing of elementary schools and kindergartens in the area until 23rd.

Cholla, Kyungnam, and Kangwon areas decided to close schools temporarily by the decision of local principals and other areas recommended refraining from outdoor activities.

In addition, `the side effects of yellow clouds` including the 20-30 percent increased rush of respiratory patients to the hospital continued on.

Korea Airport Corporation announced that 40 flights between Kimpo and 4 local airports were cancelled yesterday.

Livestock Farmers were busy yesterday in sterilizing the barns in preparation of possible infection of food-mouth disease.

Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted that “this hwangsa will abate from the end of this week but a few more hwangsa is expected to come.”

The Chinese Meteorological Administration also forecasted that “the sand storm will blow the Northeast of the Continent in 14th –16th and 20th and there will be 3-4 more sand storms by May.”

The Chinese Meteorological Administration added, “the sand storm continues for 3-4 days once it occurs and at least 15 days of sand storm until the end of spring are expected.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment announced that it will introduce a hwangsa alert system in this year to minimize the damages by the fine dusts and will implement from next year.

An official of the Ministry said, “the hwangsa alert system will be classified three levels as warning, alarm, and alert as ozone warning system does.”

Ho-Gab Lee gdt@donga.com · ljhzip@donga.com