Authorities swiftly activated an emergency response on Saturday night after a sandstorm swept through a desert tourist attraction in northwest China's Dunhuang City, suspending ticket sales and promptly evacuating visitors.
At around 18:00 that day, the city was hit by a severe sandstorm, with the sky shrouded in thick yellow dust.
In response, the Mingsha Mountain Crescent Yueya Spring Scenic Spot promptly evacuated all visitors, while local authorities organized free buses and government vehicles to ensure safe transportation to the city center.
"Over 80 trips have been made, with 142 vehicles dispatched, ensuring that the more than 5,200 tourists safely returned to the city center," said Zhao Li, deputy head of the city's comprehensive traffic and transportation law enforcement team.
Following the sandstorm, scheduled performances at the scenic spot were put on hold. The site announced that shows would restart once conditions improved.
Authorities launch emergency evacuation as sandstorm hits desert scenic spot in Dunhuang
Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi discussed efforts to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz during a phone call on Friday, according to Oman's Foreign Ministry.
The two ministers discussed developments concerning navigation through the strategic waterway and stressed the need to continue talks toward practical understandings that would facilitate the resumption and smooth flow of navigation while supporting regional security and stability, the ministry said.
They also reviewed the latest regional developments and efforts to create conditions for resuming dialogue and negotiations aimed at narrowing differences and reaching peaceful solutions to outstanding issues.
Iran and Oman have been holding talks in recent months over navigation arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the two countries had agreed on the map of a new route for maritime traffic through the strait and were expected to finalize an agreement in the form of a package comprising the map and a joint statement.
Oman, Iran FMs discuss restoring freedom of navigation in Hormuz Strait over phone
