A huge sandstorm swept through Iraq on Monday. In the capital Baghdad, streets and buildings were covered with a thick layer of orange dust (see video above). Public life was largely paralyzed. Air traffic was partially stopped with visibility of a few hundred meters, authorities, schools and universities remained closed nationwide. Many people had to be taken to hospital with breathing difficulties.
It was the ninth sandstorm since mid-April. The streets of the capital Baghdad were almost deserted, instead of the usual morning traffic jams there was a yawning void. The storm is expected to last for two days.
Nearly 10,000 people had to be treated for respiratory problems and one person was killed in the previous two sandstorms in Iraq.
Seasonal sandstorms do occur in Iraq, but experts are alarmed by the frequency of these storms in recent years. This is believed to be related to global warming. This is compounded by record rainfall and desertification.
According to the Iraqi Ministry of the Environment, the country will face an average of more than 270 days of dust and sand pollution in the air over the next 20 years. Iraq is one of the countries most threatened by climate change in the world. The World Bank has warned that Iraq’s water resources could decline by 20 percent by 2050.
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.
