Sandstorm and pollution turn Beijing sky orange – video

A sandstorm has combined with already high air pollution to turn the sky over Beijing an eerie orange. Air quality indexes recorded a hazardous" 999 rating on Monday as commuters travelled to work through the thick, dark air across China's capital and further west. Large-scale deforestation is considered a factor in the spring dust storms that are relatively common at this time of year and are usually attributed to winds blowing across the Gobi desert

• Beijing skies turn orange as sandstorm and pollution send readings off the scale