"China's North Plunged into Pollution Crisis as Smog Engulfs Region"

Northern China, including Beijing, is on the highest pollution alert as smog blankets the region, reducing visibility to less than 50 meters. The province of Hebei has implemented an anti-pollution emergency response, which includes traffic safety controls and the suspension of flights, highways, and ferries. Experts attribute the heavy smog to increased industrial activities, heavy trucking, and crop fires. The National Meteorological Center forecasts that the haze will continue until Thursday, but cold air currents expected to arrive from Thursday night may help dissipate the pollution.