PHOTOS: Colossal Sandstorm Engulfs China's Gansu Province

By Bryan Grogan

On November 25, a colossal sandstorm bombarded Northwest China's Gansu province. It was a truly eerie sight as the ‘sand wall’ infiltrated Zhangye Prefecture City, with fire fighters rushing to various wheat farms to put out fires caused by the extreme weather. According to Gansu firefighting's official Weibo account, the intense fires have already been controlled and no one was hurt.

Screegrab via @甘肃消防/Weibo

Gansu Daily reported yesterday that four cities west of the Yellow River were issued yellow (moderate) warnings, including Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Jinta County and Yumen, cautioning residents to be careful amidst the apocalyptic weather. As of this morning, November 26, the sandstorm has traveled to Gansu's capital, Lanzhou. The city's air quality index (AQI) reached over 500 this morning, about 400 higher than acceptable air quality standards.

Check out these photos below to see the end of times in western Gansu province, so to speak…

Image via @每日甘肃网/Weibo

Image via @桃夭C/Weibo

Image via @research_dog/Weibo

Image via @每日甘肃/Sohu

Image via @每日甘肃/Sohu

Image via @每日甘肃/Sohu

Image via @中国甘肃网/Weibo

Image via @爱西宁社区/Weibo

Image via @每日甘肃网/Weibo

Residents living in the affected cities have posted about the influx of dust and dirt into their homes. "I don't know how much dirt got into my dorm last night, anyway the smell of it woke me up," one student posted on Weibo this morning. Another user posted a video of the sandstorm overtaking a city in Gansu, writing "Looking up [above the sandstorm] at the blue skies and white clouds makes me want to cry."

Watch this video below to get a glimpse of this massive sandstorm up close (VPN off):

[Cover image via @中国甘肃网/Weibo]

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