Sharjah24 - AFP: More than 1,800 people were hospitalized Monday due to respiratory issues caused by a sandstorm in central and southern Iraq, according to health officials.
Authorities shut airports amid severe sandstorm
Authorities temporarily closed airports in the southern provinces of Najaf and Basra as the sandstorm—the largest this year—obscured visibility in an eerie orange cloud.
Iraq's vulnerability to climate change
Iraq, known for its blistering summer heat and frequent sandstorms, is one of the five countries most affected by climate change, according to the United Nations.
Rising health concerns
Hospitals in Muthanna province reported at least 700 cases of suffocation, as noted by local health official Mazen al-Egeili. In Najaf province, over 250 people were hospitalized, according to the health directorate.
Public response to dust cloud
An AFP photographer in Najaf observed police officers and pedestrians wearing face masks to protect themselves from the suffocating dust cloud. A paramedic inside a nearby ambulance was seen assisting a young man gasping for air.
Hospitalisations across provinces
In Diwaniyah province, at least 322 patients, including children, sought treatment, as reported by Amer al-Kinani, the provincial health department's media officer. In Dhi Qar and Basra provinces, more than 530 individuals experienced breathing difficulties, according to local health officials.
Visibility and weather outlook
The sandstorm drastically reduced visibility to less than one kilometer (0.62 miles) but is expected to gradually dissipate by Tuesday morning, as indicated by weather services.
Previous sandstorm impact
In 2022, a heavy sandstorm in Iraq resulted in one death and over 5,000 hospitalizations for respiratory ailments.
Future predictions
The environment ministry has warned that Iraq can expect an increasing number of "dust days" in the coming decades.
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