Heavy fogs blanketed many parts of northern and northeastern China on Tuesday, forcing the closure of highways, disrupting flights and spoiling many people's New Year's travel plans.

 

The fog cloaked the central and southern parts of north China's Hebei Province from late Monday, according to the provincial meteorological bureau, which said visibility in some areas was just 50 meters.

 

Local traffic police said around eight highways were closed and almost a dozen flights had been cancelled or delayed.

 

Heavy fogs were also reported in nearby city of Tianjin and several other cities in China's northernmost Heilongjiang province.

 

Traffic police closed dozens of highways in Heilongjiang.

 

The police said the fog caused a number of traffic accidents, but no casualties were reported.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 2, 2007)