Scary video shows Chinese city disappearing in massive dust storm

A monstrous dust storm engulfed the Chinese city of Dunhuang on Sunday afternoon.

Residents of the northwestern city in Gansu province captured the terrifying descent of the 300-foot-high clouds of sediment, the South China Morning Post reported — a force of nature that obscured even high-rise towers as local government officials urged citizens to stay indoors, issuing a “yellow” alert to citizens. During the storm, which had traveled from the Gobi Desert just outside of the Silk Road city Dunhuang, major roads were shut down due to decreased visibility — less than 20 feet in some areas — making it impossible to see traffic ahead. At the same time, more than 400 flights out of the city’s two main airports were canceled.