Heavy fog blanketed many parts of central China's Henan Province and Handan City in north China's Hebei Province on Monday morning, disrupting local traffic and forcing the closure of several expressway sections.
The dense fog significantly reduced visibility across northern, central, and southern regions in Henan. Visibility dropped below 200 meters in some counties and county-level cities.
Hebi City and Qingfeng County issued red alerts for dense fog, with visibility in some areas plunging to less than 50 meters.
According to Henan Expressway Command Center, as of 10:00 Monday, several expressway sections in the province were closed to all vehicles due to poor visibility. Traffic police advised drivers to strictly follow driving regulations, maintain a safe distance, and exit the expressway as soon as possible when visibility drops below 50 meters.
In Handan, north China's Hebei Province, a dense fog shrouded many parts of the city on early Monday, with visibility in some areas falling below 50 meters.
Local traffic police activated an emergency response plan, with officers deployed to key road sections from 05:00 to guide vehicles and ensure smooth traffic flow.
By 08:00, Guangping County in Handan was enveloped in heavy fog that reduced visibility to less than 50 meters. Drivers were seen switch on fog lights and hazard flashers while proceeding slowly.
"We have activated the emergency plan for foggy weather, strengthening patrols on major roads and intersections to guide traffic and ensure public safety. Drivers are reminded to operate with caution, turn on front and rear fog lights and hazard flashers, keep a safe distance, and reduce speed when driving in fog," said Liu Pengya, a police officer.
Heavy fog closes down expressway, disrupts traffic in Henan, Hebei provinces
Confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda have surpassed 600 as response efforts face operational constraints, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said Tuesday.
In its latest outbreak update, the African Union's specialized continental public health agency said confirmed Ebola cases in the DRC and Uganda have reached 608, with the death toll climbing to 102 as of Monday.
Uganda has reported no new confirmed cases in the last 24 hours. In the DRC, 45 new confirmed cases were reported during the past 24 hours, bringing the total there to 589, according to the Africa CDC.
The Africa CDC warned that ongoing response efforts are "facing significant operational constraints," noting that health facilities in several affected areas are in poor condition and often lack potable water, incinerators, personal protective equipment, and decontamination supplies.
Insecurity, a shortage of ambulances, growing staffing pressures with some health workers unpaid or without incentives, and poor roads are further slowing access and response operations, it said, while highlighting the existing lack of community trust as "a critical challenge" jeopardizing ongoing response efforts.
The agency also expressed concern over the negative impacts of travel restrictions imposed on affected and at-risk African countries despite guidance from the World Health Organization and the Africa CDC.
The Africa CDC outlined several "immediate priorities," including strengthening community engagement and risk communication, fast-tracking multidisciplinary rapid response teams to high-risk areas, addressing gaps in infection prevention and safe burial, as well as enhancing surveillance and contact follow-up.
Ebola cases in DR Congo, Uganda surpass 600 amid operational constraints: Africa CDC
