Sandstorm sweeps across Xinjiang

A sandstorm swept across parts of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China from Friday to Saturday.

In Zepu County of Kashgar Prefecture, visibility dropped to less than 1,000 meters due to the intense dust and sand. In Hotan Prefecture, visibility was even worse, dropping below 550 meters in some areas.

The local authorities responded quickly to the extreme weather by activating an emergency response plan. Traffic police were deployed at major intersections of roads to direct traffic and ensure the safety of local residents. The sandstorm slightly let up in Hotan to floating dust after Saturday, with the weather expected to continue through Monday.