Roofs Collapse, Billboards Fall Down
Beijing Hit by Record-Breaking Winds and Sandstorm
The roof of a five-story building began to shake in the wind and quickly collapsed. The billboard on the building's rooftop also crumbled down. The living room window of an apartment was blown away entirely.
Passengers are sleeping while waiting for their flights at Terminal 3 of the Capital International Airport after Beijing flights were canceled due to a strong wind warning. Photo by AP Yonhap News
These are scenes from Beijing, the capital of China, and Henan Province in north-central China on the 12th (local time). Strong winds with maximum speeds exceeding 165 km/h swept through the area. A sandstorm also occurred with the highest wind speeds ever recorded.
Chinese media reported on April 12 that strong winds caused significant damage in Beijing and some northern regions of China, resulting in the cancellation of hundreds of flights, closure of tourist sites, and suspension of railway lines. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
Earlier, some citizens made thorough preparations by stockpiling food at supermarkets. Local media reported, "This is the first time in 10 years that guidelines have been issued for such powerful strong winds."
Lei Lei, the chief forecaster at the Beijing Meteorological Observatory, emphasized to the Beijing Daily, "Gusts with wind speeds above level 10 possess a force strong enough to cause disasters," explaining that trees and utility poles could fall and temporary structures might collapse.
Security personnel are firmly securing a glass door with locks and sandbags near a sign that reads "Typhoon, Closed" on Wangfujing shopping street in Beijing. Photo by AP Yonhap News
He added, "It is dangerous to go outside when strong gusts blow, so you should never go between high-rise buildings," and advised, "You should stay far away from temporary structures, billboards, and large trees."
The Beijing city government urged people to completely refrain from outdoor sports, gatherings, and travel activities until the weekend. It also recommended that all educational institutions, including elementary schools, middle schools, and kindergartens, discourage students from outdoor activities.
On major Chinese social media platforms, photos showing empty shelves due to stockpiling of vegetables and eggs are also appearing one after another. Notices indicating that major food items are already out of stock have been posted.
Meanwhile, in May last year, sudden gusts of wind in Beijing, China, caused damage such as trees breaking or being uprooted.
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