Chinese cities issue 'orange' smog alert - state radio

FILE PHOTO: Chinese national flags are flying near a steel factory in Wu'an, Hebei province, China, February 23, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo

BEIJING - At least nine cities in China's industrial heartland of Hebei, Shandong, Henan and Shanxi have issued second-level, or "orange", pollution alerts in response to a wave of smog expected to blanket the region, state radio reported on Friday.

The alerts are expected to be in effect until Jan. 14.