At least 32 people have been killed in traffic accidents in China over the weekend as heavy smog and fog shrouded huge swathes of the country, state press said Sunday. Eight people were killed and dozens injured when up to 30 vehicles were involved in a pile-up in central Henan province on Sunday, the China News Service reported, while seven died in an accident in neighbouring Anhui province.
On Saturday, at least 17 people were killed and more than 20 injured when a passenger coach hit a cement truck in thick fog in Jiangsu Province in eastern China, Xinhua news agency said.
The State Meteorological Bureau issued a health warning over the heavily polluted air, advising motorists to cut their speed.
"The fog and smog has resulted in a sharp drop in air quality that can impact health. Residents need to take appropriate measures to protect themselves," the bureau said.
Eleven provinces and regions, including the capital Beijing, were affected, it said, with visibility reduced to 100 metres (yards) in some areas.