Beijing issues first red-alert for smog

(Vatican Radio) Beijing issued its first-ever red alert for smog on Monday, urging schools to close and invoking restrictions on factories and traffic that will keep half of the city's vehicles off the roads.

The red alert is the most serious warning on a four-tier system adopted a little over two years ago.

An online notice from the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau said it issued the alert to ``protect public health and reduce levels of heavy air pollution.''

Readings of PM2.5 particles climbed toward 300 micrograms per cubic meter on Monday and are expected to continue rising before the air begins to improve with the arrival of a cold front on Thursday. The World Health Organization designates the safe level for the tiny, poisonous particles at 25.

Along with school closures and limiting cars to driving every other day according to the last number of their number plate, a raft of other restrictions will seek to reduce the amount of dust and other particulate matter in the city of 22.5 million people. Officials said extra subway trains and buses would be added to handle the additional strain on public transport.