Since April 10th, China has been hit by a massive natural disaster: more than half of its provinces and regions have come under the grip of devastating storms, sandstorms, torrential rains, and hail.
In the northern part of the country, where the impact was most intense, nearly 500 weather stations recorded record-breaking wind speeds for the month of April. In Hebei and Henan provinces, wind speeds reached fifteen on the extended Beaufort scale — equivalent to between approximately 103 and 114 miles per hour. Buildings were destroyed, rooftops torn off, window frames ripped out, and streets were littered with debris and downed power lines.
In Beijing, the strongest gust — measured at approximately 102 miles per hour — was recorded at the high-altitude station known as the “Mentougou Alpine Rose Garden.” This corresponds to the strength of a Category 2 hurricane. Across the city, more than 800 large trees were uprooted, and hundreds of vehicles were damaged. Residents weighing less than 110 pounds were advised to stay indoors, as the wind was strong enough to physically carry people away.
The disaster brought transportation across the country to a halt: over 3200 flights were canceled, and railway services — including high-speed lines — were suspended.
Sandstorms swept across Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Ningxia, Gansu Province, and other areas. Visibility dropped to dangerously low levels, while the concentration of dust in the air rose to hazardous levels. Some residents even reported sleeping in face masks due to the poor air quality.
The storm rapidly spread south and east. In Anhui Province, a falling tree fatally injured a woman riding a motorized bicycle. In Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, a sudden hailstorm caused extensive damage to vehicles, buildings, and agricultural land.
In Nanchang County, Jiangxi Province, air pollution caused by the dust storm exceeded the World Health Organization’s recommended level by 82 times — an extremely rare occurrence for that region. The air quality index reached 1240 micrograms per cubic meter, compared to the WHO’s recommended average of 15 micrograms per cubic meter.
It is becoming increasingly clear that natural disasters are not only becoming more frequent but also more intense and abnormal in scale. China is among the countries most affected due to the geographic and geophysical characteristics of its territory. These catastrophes are already causing severe economic losses and immense human suffering.
Today, a scientific and technological solution already exists to help reduce the intensity of natural disasters. Detailed information about this can be found in the report titled "ON THE THREAT OF A MAGMA PLUME ERUPTION IN SIBERIA AND STRATEGIES FOR ADDRESSING THE ISSUE."