Heavy fog lingers in NE China

Expressways, schools and an airport remained closed on Tuesday in northeast China's Harbin city due to lingering heavy smog.

Kindergartens, primary and junior middle schools were ordered to suspend classes for a second day on Tuesday in Harbin,the provincial capital of Heilongjiang province. The Harbin Taiping International Airport has been shut down since Monday.

Meteorological authorities in Harbin issued a red alert for the fog at 5 a.m. Tuesday. Visibility in some areas of downtown was less than 20 meters.

All expressways in Heilongjiang remained closed on Tuesday.

The severe smog continued to shroud other major cities such as Changchun, capital of Jilin Province and Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province on Tuesday. Meteorological authorities in the two provinces also issued a red alert for the thick fog.

The heavy fog began to hit the vast northeastern region on Sunday.