China, Xinjiang farmer forced to flee livestream as sandstorm blows hundreds of melon covers into the air
A man livestreaming from his melon farm in Xinjiang was caught in a sudden sandstorm, forcing him to flee as hundreds of plastic fruit covers were blown into the air and pelted his body.
- A Xinjiang farmer was forced to flee mid-livestream after a sandstorm blew hundreds of melon covers into the air.
- The surreal scene went viral online, with experts warning about dangerous wind gusts and visibility issues.
- Environmentalists raised concerns about plastic pollution from the flying fruit covers scattered across farmland.
HAMI, XINJIANG — A farmer’s routine livestream in China’s Xinjiang region turned chaotic when a sudden sandstorm struck his melon field, blowing hundreds of plastic fruit covers into the air and forcing him to flee for safety.
Livestream turns into chaos
The incident occurred earlier this week in Hami, Xinjiang, where the man was promoting his Hami melons via livestream to online customers.
In the viral video, he can be seen calmly describing his produce when strong winds suddenly whip across the field. Within seconds, hundreds of white plastic fruit nets — used to protect the melons — were lifted high into the air, creating a snowstorm-like effect.
As the gusts intensified, some of the flying nets began pelting the farmer, prompting him to grab his phone and run for cover, cutting off the livestream.
“There was no warning at all,” he told local media later. “We were livestreaming when the wind just started. It lasted about half an hour.”
Viral reactions and expert warnings
The surreal footage quickly went viral on Chinese social media, where netizens jokingly described the scene as “an army of plastic soldiers charging into battle.” Others praised the farmer for keeping his composure before escaping the storm.
Meteorologists explained that the man made the right decision to flee. Sudden gusts during sandstorms can easily reduce visibility to near zero, uproot small trees, and pose serious hazards to those working outdoors.
“Sandstorms in northwest China are common during autumn,” experts said. “Farmers should monitor weather alerts closely and avoid working in open fields when winds intensify.”
Environmental concerns
Beyond the humour, some online commenters expressed concern over plastic waste scattered across farmlands after such storms.
Environmentalists noted that the lightweight protective nets used by farmers often become non-biodegradable litter, contributing to soil and air pollution if not properly collected.
Local authorities have since reminded residents to secure farming materials and dispose of damaged plastic responsibly after severe weather events.
