China: Massive Sandstorm Engulfs Jiuquan City, Gansu Province

As parts of China continue to grapple with the aftermath of severe rainfall and typhoon, another natural phenomenon has citizens reeling: a sandstorm. A massive dust storm blew into Jiuquan in China’s Gansu province on July 25, engulfing tourists visiting the ancient Silk Road city. Dramatic footage of a sandstorm engulfing a city in northwestern China has left people on social media freaking out, with many comparing it to scenes from an apocalyptic movie. A heavy sandstorm with dust clouds towering at least 100 metres (330ft) high hit Dunhuang city in Gansu Province recently. Stunning videos show a huge wall of sand slowly swallowing high-rise buildings and highways, causing chaos and alarm, especially among commuters. When it struck around 3 pm, authorities issued a ‘yellow warning’ and local police sprung into action, helping direct traffic and ordering drivers to pull over until the storm had passed. China has a four-tier colour-coded weather warning system for sandstorms, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow, and blue. Watch the video to know more.