A police officer cleared a road with a shovel as a sandstorm halted traffic on a highway in northern China.

Video filmed in the city of Bayannur in Inner Mongolia on April 9 shows a huge sandstorm engulfing the city, turning the sky orange.

The sand was blown onto Beijing–Ürümqi Expressway, halting the traffic. A traffic officer was seen clearing up the road with a shovel.

The Inner Mongolia Meteorological Bureau issued a blue warning signal (the lowest level) for the gale and a yellow warning signal (the lowest level) for the sandstorm at around 9:00 am on April 9.

The video was provided by local media with permission.

4月9日，受大风扬沙天气影响，G7京新高速内蒙古巴彦淖尔段，漫天黄沙飞扬，能见度低，群众出行、生产生活受到严重影响，给道路交通安全带来了极大影响，民警紧急出动，铲沙开路。
为充分保障交通秩序安全有序，高速交警结合沙尘侵袭特点和车流量等制定相应的应对措施，安排警力对通行车辆进行交通指挥，保持道路畅通。执勤民警依托辖区收费站进行巡逻喊话，对过往车辆发送“沙尘天气请减速慢行”等提醒服务，提醒过往车辆安全行驶、减速慢行、保持安全车距。
内蒙古自治区气象台于4月9日9时许连续发布大风蓝色预警信号和沙尘暴黄色预警信号，