A sandstorm is currently spreading across the Emirates. The world’s tallest building – the Burj Khalifa – in Dubai was barely visible through a dense gray veil. The sandstorm is likely to continue for a few more days. Sandstorms have also hit Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iran in recent days.
The storms had resulted in school closures, air traffic disruptions and thousands of hospitalizations due to respiratory problems across the countries. Air pollution in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Emirates, reached “dangerous” levels on Wednesday night, according to air pollution monitor waqi.info. For Saudi Arabia, the local weather service predicted another sandstorm for Sunday.
Sandstorms are not uncommon in the region. However, they have increased in recent months due to particularly severe droughts, which are accompanied by climate change.
Deforestation, excessive abstraction of water from rivers and the construction of dams also increase the phenomenon.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
