Northeast China was shrouded in a gray haze over the weekend, closing schools, canceling iarasi and threatening the health of citizens who are just trying to breathe. China issued its first red alert for smog for 23 cities last week.

As of Saturday, could have covered the 10.1 million square kilometers (3.9 million square miles), according to the Ministry of the country for the protection of the environment. This is roughly the area of the United States. In the port city of Tianjin, Southeast of Beijing, officials closed the highway, increasing the capacity of public transport by 15% and distributed the cars to drive on different days according to their license plates. In an even or odd days, according to news Agency Xinhua.

Tianjin Binhai international airport, a major center of air cargo services has suspended service from Sunday evening to mid-morning Monday that led to the cancellation of 131 flights and 75 delays, told Xinhua.

Beijing, the capital, is also restricted car traffic, while in Shandong province, down the coast from Tianjin, officials closed pay gates at the four expressways. Flights were also detained in the Shandong province. The situation is so dire that it has created a group of "refugees smog" who leave Beijing in search of clean air, according to the South China Morning Post. Tickets to resort areas in Yunnan and Fujian nearly sold out, according to the newspaper.

Cities along the coast of the Yellow sea - including Beijing and Tianjin, along with the province of Shandong, Hebei, and further into the country, Shanxi and Henan - were among the most affected areas.
sections: Accidents, World News