From CNNPLUS: TRANSCRIPTS
April 26, 1998
(Lead Story)

Dust Enshrouds Northwest China
 
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL
FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. IT HAS BEEN EDITED FOR SPELLING.
 
RALPH WENGE, CNN ANCHOR: China's northwest is digging itself
out from a blanket of yellow dust and rock. Gale-force winds
pelted China's Xinjiang region last week with sand and stone,
shattering windows and cutting electricity and water lines.
 
At least 11 people were reported missing. The winds also 
reportedly caused numerous fires both in residential areas
and nearby forests. China's Central Television has more.

 (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WANG FEIZHOU, CCTV REPORTER (voice-over): A sandstorm struck
some 10 cities and towns in eastern and southern parts of Xinjiang.
And the influence of strong cold air currents from Western
Siberia and warm air from the Caspian Sea, the winds gained
a gale-force speed in a very short time.
 
Along State Highway 312 in northwest Xinjiang's Datun District,
large trees were blown down or pulled up from their roots.
In downtown Wulumuqi, the capital of the autonomous region,
many huge advertisement billboards were blown down,
as the hours-long storm covered the city with yellow  dust.
 
In western Xinjiang, 11 people have been confirmed missing
in the disaster. Large animal herds were scattered by the
fierce winds in the northern tip of the region, and some
vehicles were hurled from the roads. The wind also blew
up forest fires in nearby areas.
 
Meteorologists describe the storm as rare in recent years.
North China was also shrouded by dust winds. Beijing
residents woke up to see the city covered by yellow dirt
and dust on house roofs, streets, cars, bicycles everywhere.
Vehicles were unrecognizable to their owners. Intervals
of light rainfall continued well into the afternoon,
covering morning moisture cars with dirt again at noon.
Drivers were frustrated.
 
If this kind of windy and dusty weather used to come on
in early spring of Beijing, it is not usual for people
in Shandong Province. The next day, strong winds carried
the dust further south to Shandong Province. Jinan residents
found the morning sky even a grayish yellow, and their city
covered in dust. Outdoor visibility was low. A 62-year-old
resident said she had never seen such weather before.
Weather experts attribute the storm to a widespread and rapid
cyclone, blowing dust and dirt from Mongolia and the 
Loess Plateau where the vegetation is poor. The recent 
abnormal high temperature and low humidity also provided
optimum conditions for the movement of dust. 

This is Wang Feizhou of CCTV for the CNN WORLD REPORT. 
(END VIDEOTAPE)

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This report was submitted to the Asian Dust Website by
-Tom Gill, Texas Tech, Lubbock, TX, May 14, 1998

For what it's worth, the following transcript was obtained from reports
posted on the CNN WORLD REPORT ARCHIVES, at Texas Tech University.  For
noncommercial, research purposes only.  Thanks to Ed Youngblood at Texas
Tech University.