A sandstorm in central and southern Iraq sent more than 1,800 people to hospitals with respiratory problems , health officials said.
As the sandstorm enveloped the skyline in dust clouds, hampering visibility, the road safety authority and Saudi Highway Security warned motorists to exercise caution due to poor visibility caused by the storm.
The General Directorate of Civil Defense advised residents to avoid going to sandy outskirts to avoid accidents during the sandstorm, calling for caution and for people to follow instructions issued because of the weather.
Mohammed Serajuddin, a Riyadh resident, told Arab News: “Since it was a week off, we have planned for an outing with family in the evening, but due to the sandstorm we have decided to remain indoors. It’s not good to venture out in such inclement weather. The local civic bodies have also advised people to avoid going out amid the dust storm.”
Basheer Saleh, another Riyadh resident, agreed, saying the local authorities have warned of inclement weather in various regions and advised residents to avoid going to picnic spots at the weekend because of the possibility of the inclement weather continuing.
“It’s good to take precautions amid such inclement weather,” he said.
Because sandstorms can cause breathing ailments, people with respiratory problems were advised to avoid going outside where possible, he added.
Widespread dust storms were predicted in several parts of the Kingdom. The National Center for Meteorology forecast on Friday said thunderstorms accompanied by hail and dust-stirring winds were expected in parts of Makkah, Riyadh, Qassim, Hail, Eastern, and Northern Borders regions.
The NCM expects lower temperatures in northern parts of the Kingdom.
Although not infrequent at this time of the year, the sandstorm created warm conditions, with the maximum temperature recorded in the capital at 35 degrees Celsius and minimum of 26 degrees Celsius.
As per the forecast, wind over the Red Sea will be northwesterly to northerly at speeds of 25-50 km per hour in the northern and central parts, and southeasterly to southwesterly at speeds of 20-40 kph in the south.
Waves may reach from 1.5 m to 3 m; the sea will be calm to choppy, the NCM said.
In the Arabian Gulf, winds will be northeasterly to northwesterly at speeds of 15-30 kph, with waves ranging from 0.5 m to 1.5 m, while the sea will be relatively calm, it added.
Authorities temporarily shut the airports in the southern provinces of Najaf and Basra as the sandstorm — the biggest this year — obscured visibility in an eery orange cloud.
Iraq, which endures blistering summer heat and regular sandstorms, is one of the five countries most impacted by some effects of climate change, says the United Nations.
Hospitals in Muthanna province in southern Iraq received at least “700 cases of suffocation,” local health official Mazen Al-Egeili said.
More than 250 people were hospitalized in Najaf province, according to its health directorate.
An AFP photographer in Najaf saw police officers and pedestrians wearing face masks to shield themselves from the suffocating cloud of dust that hung heavily in the air.
Inside a nearby ambulance, a paramedic assisted a young man who was gasping for air.
At least 322 patients including children flocked to hospitals in Diwaniyah province, said Amer Al-Kinani, the provincial health department’s media officer.
In Dhi Qar and Basra provinces more than 530 people had breathing problems, local health officials said.
The sandstorm drastically reduced visibility to less than one kilometer (0.62 mile) but it is expected to gradually dissipate by Tuesday morning, weather services said.
In 2022, one person died and more than 5,000 were treated in hospitals for respiratory ailments due to a heavy sandstorm in Iraq.
The environment ministry has warned the country can expect to experience a rising number of “dust days” in coming decades.