Around 5h, dense fog appeared on the Cao Bo - Mai Son - National Highway 45 - Nghi Son expressway, sharply reducing visibility. To prevent traffic accidents, Traffic Police Department's Highway Police Team 3 temporarily prohibited traffic on certain sections to ensure safety.
Specifically, the section heading towards Thanh Hoa was closed from Km276 to Km287; the section from Thanh Hoa to Hanoi was closed from Km296 to the Giao Neu intersection. The ban was implemented in the early morning and will remain in effect until weather conditions ensure safe traffic flow. A representative of the Traffic Police Department stated this is the first time authorities have closed a highway due to severe weather.
Dense fog on the Cao Bo - Mai Son expressway section through Tam Diep. Video: Traffic Police Department
Authorities advised drivers to monitor traffic diversion information and choose alternative routes. When encountering dense fog and slippery road surfaces, drivers should limit travel, turn on fog lights and low beam headlights, and absolutely not encroach on lanes or overtake other vehicles.
Hanoi's air quality at a very unhealthy level
At the same time, air quality in Hanoi rapidly deteriorated after the cold air weakened. At 8h, the Environment Agency's monitoring station at the entrance of Bach Khoa University on Giai Phong street recorded an AQI of 232, a very unhealthy level that could seriously affect health.
The index at this station gradually increased since 2/2, exceeded 200 from midnight on 3/2, and has maintained a high level. The station at 556 Nguyen Van Cu recorded an AQI of 169. Many other monitoring points in the Northern region also showed poor levels, such as Thai Nguyen at 192, Hai Duong at 182, Bac Giang at 164, and Hung Yen at 153.
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Air pollution on Phan Trong Tue street, Thanh Tri commune. Photo: Hoang Giang
IQAir's global air quality monitoring system ranked Hanoi among highly polluted cities that morning, following Delhi and Dhaka. Many inner-city monitoring points recorded very unhealthy levels, including Tay Ho, Hoang Quoc Viet, Xuan Tao, Hoan Kiem, Pham Hung, and Thach That areas.
According to the environment agency, pollution is currently mainly due to the accumulation of PM2.5 fine dust when dispersion conditions are poor. The forecast for the day indicates that air quality in Hanoi and some neighboring provinces will continue to be poor to very unhealthy before potentially decreasing slightly the following day.
Viet An
