S. Korea takes emergency measures to mitigate fine dust

SEOUL, Nov. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea took emergency measures to curb fine dust in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday for the first time in eight months. The Ministry of Environment issued a particulate matter advisory, which calls for extraordinary steps in the capital area, including an even and odd road rationing for public-sector vehicles and the reduction of operation hours at construction sites and major pollutant-emitting workplaces. The Seoul city government has imposed temporary shutdowns on some 360 parking lots at affiliated public institutions and suspended old diesel cars from running in the city. The government takes special mitigation measures for Seoul and surrounding areas when the concentration level of ultra fine particles measuring 2.5 micrometers surpasses 50 ㎍/㎥. The level has risen to as high as 80 ㎍/㎥ in some parts of the three areas since Tuesday. As of 9 a.m., the average ultra fine dust level stood at 50 ㎍/㎥ in Seoul, 86 ㎍/㎥ in the southwestern city of Gwangju, 87 ㎍/㎥ in the central city of Daejeon and 95 ㎍/㎥ in North Jeolla Province. A level higher than 76 ㎍/㎥ is considered "very bad." The weather agency said rain will fall Thursday and help bring down the density level. elly@yna.co.kr (END)