China’s capital city was shrouded in a cloud or orange dust from a massive sandstorm that affected an area of 312,000 square miles. Residents and visitors to Beijing were forced to wear masks and glasses in an attempt to keep the dust at bay.

The nation’s weather forecasting service gave the air quality rating of ‘5’ – its worst possible rating. The service was urging residents to stay inside and avoid the unhealthy air.

• In pictures: View a slideshow of the sandstorm that struck Beijing

Flights at Beijing’s international airport were delayed and visitors to Tiananmen Square and other popular locations were greeted with orange skies and obscured landmarks.

The massive storm which originated hundreds of miles away struck after midnight and was carried by winds reaching 60mph. The sandstorm, somewhat common in Beijing, is expected to last until Monday.

The storm’s reach will also extend Saturday to the Korean Peninsula where Seoul has issued dust advisories.

Experts have blamed the storms on deforestation and urbanization and have resulted in a marked increase in the number of sandstorms. One storm in 2006 deposited an estimated 300,000 tons of sand on Beijing.

The expansion of deserts in the nation are considered a grave risk as deserts now encompass one third of the land area. In recent years the government began a program to plant vegetation in an attempt to stop the growing deserts.

“The situation improved tremendously after that. Thanks to the mild climate and conservation efforts, Beijing had only one sandstorm last year,” Guo Hu, head of the Beijing Meteorological Station, told Xinhua on Saturday.

This story was originally published by the Natural Disasters Examiner.  To ensure you are up to date with the latest on all types of disasters from sandstorms and snowstorms to hurricanes and tornadoes, visit the Natural Disasters Examiner.