A powerful sandstorm swept across central and southern Iraq, leaving more than 1,000 people struggling with respiratory problems, according to health officials.
In Muthanna province alone, at least 700 people were treated for what local authorities described as suffocation, the AFP news agency reported.
Video footage circulating online showed vast areas shrouded in a thick orange haze. Local media also reported widespread power outages and flight suspensions in several regions due to the storm.
While dust storms are a common occurrence in Iraq, environmental experts suggest they are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change.
Getty Images: A lone man rides his motorbike through an orange haze under a bridge in Najaf, Iraq, with rows of glowing street lights overhead.
The Iraqi environment ministry has warned that the country will face an increasing number of “dust days” in the future.
To cope with the storm, pedestrians and police officers were seen wearing face masks, and paramedics were deployed to assist those experiencing breathing difficulties.
Hospitals across southern Iraq were overwhelmed. In addition to the 700 cases in Muthanna, over 250 people were hospitalized in Najaf province, while Diwaniyah province reported at least 322 patients, including children. Another 530 people in Dhi Qar and Basra provinces also sought medical help for respiratory distress.
Getty Images: Vehicles with red headlights crawl through the orange cloud in Najaf, as police in face masks direct traffic through low visibility conditions.
The storm significantly reduced visibility, with reports indicating it dropped to less than one kilometre (0.62 miles) in some areas. Airports in Najaf and Basra were temporarily shut down due to safety concerns.
Local weather services predict that conditions will begin to improve by Tuesday morning.
Iraq is considered one of the five countries most vulnerable to climate change, according to the United Nations. In addition to frequent dust storms, the country also grapples with extreme heat and chronic water shortages.
A similar sandstorm in 2022 left one person dead and more than 5,000 people in need of treatment for respiratory issues.
The Iraqi environment ministry has reiterated that such “dust days” are expected to become a regular challenge in the years ahead.
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