An unexplained fog hanging over the coronavirus city of Wuhan is being blamed on Chinese authorities burning thousands of infected corpses.

The fog, or smog, has once more triggered fears the real coronavirus death toll inside Wuhan is massively higher than the 1,100 the Beijing government has admitted to. Clips appear to show the city shrouded in smoky fog which residents say has “come out of nowhere”. The videos have triggered theories the smog is the result of smoke from Chinese crematoriums burning coronavirus-infected bodies “24 hours a day”.

The National Health Commission in China has ordered all coronavirus fatalities to be cremated, with burials and funerals banned, to prevent to spread of disease.

One woman commented on social media: “Everyone knows the seriousness, but at this time, I can only express it here! The crematoriums of major funeral homes in Wuhan currently working 24 hours! Before, it was only half a day to open the stove! Even in special circumstances, it is only a full day shift!”

Mary Langan tweeted: “The bodies are piling up faster than they can cremate. This is the fog of Wuhan.”

Jim Phillippi added: “This fog is due to seven crematoriums running most of the day all days if the week. This is Wuhan.”

The coronavirus death toll at time of writing is 1,100.

Coronavirus cases have leapt past 25,000 worldwide as the disease breaches China’s borders and hits four continents.

Maps show it has been detected in more than 20 countries.

As cases and panic continues to spread around the world, one app claims to track 2019-nCoV’s path.

Made in Taipei, coronavirus.app monitors cases of coronavirus via world and local government organisations.

According to the app, 25,000 cases of coronavirus have emerged since the outbreak began in 2019.

Today the World Health Organisation said the coronavirus poses a greater global threat than terrorism.

WHO bosses said the disease, which has affected more than 44,000 people and began in China, is “the worst enemy you can ever imagine”.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said: “To be honest, a virus is more powerful in creating political, social and economic upheaval than any terrorist attack. It’s the worst enemy you can imagine.”

Two prisoners are being tested for coronavirus in Oxfordshire, one of whom had recently been transferred from a jail in Thailand.