Multi-Day N. China Sandstorm Kills 3, Produces $80 Million In Property Damage To Crops, Vineyards

A huge sandstorm sweeping across northwest China for the past two days has left three people dead and destroyed property worth 550 million yuan ($80 million), officials said Monday.

The storm started in Gansu province Saturday and killed three people in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region over the weekend. On Monday, parts of Xinjiang, Gansu, Inner Mongolia and Ningxia regions were covered in dust, Xinhua reported.

Meteorologists said the storm is gradually weakening and is likely to stop Tuesday.

In Xinjiang, crops and vineries worth 550 million yuan were destroyed when a huge fire broke out caused by the storm, officials said. One person was missing. Farming is the main source of livelihood in the area. The storm also hampered the rescue and relief work in Yushu County, the epicentre of the devastating April 14 quake in Qinghai province.

EDIT

http://www.beijingnews.net/story/627843