Yellow Dust Expected Today
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Yellow dust is expected to engulf the nation today, the Korea Meteorological Administration said Sunday. The long hauling cold spell will disappear, but the dust will bring new illnesses such as pink eye, runny nose and affect visibility, the weather agency said.
The dust storm stemming from Mongolian deserts, reached the southeastern seashore on Saturday only to head in a northeastern direction and affect the whole nation by Monday afternoon. The KMA said the phenomenon will dissipate by Tuesday afternoon.
The yellow dust is notorious for carrying fine sand and pollutants as it blows across Korea every spring. The strongest one was recorded in 2002, which caused hundreds of people to undergo medical treatment for respiratory problems and other illnesses, according to the state-run Korea Environment Institute.