Dust storm turns Iraq skies into orange artwork
A thick cloud of orange dust left people gasping for air and grounded several flights. Experts say phenomenon to become more frequent due to drought and declining rainfall
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Skies over Iraq turned a beautiful orange on Sunday when a major dust storm hit large parts of the country. These storms have become more frequent due to drought and declining rainfall, with the country experiencing a series of dust storms last month. AFP
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The thick layer of orange dust affected visibility, grounding several flights at Baghdad and the Shia holy city of Najaf. AFP
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Dozens were hospitalised with respiratory problems in the centre and the west of the country. AFP
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Iraq’s meteorological office said that the country is likely to see more and more dust storms due to drought, desertification and declining rainfall. A lack of green areas in and around cities can also contribute to the problem. AFP
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According to officials, flights have been interrupted at the airports of Baghdad and Najaf due to the dust storm and visibility will only improve by Monday evening. AFP
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In early April, Issa al-Fayad, an environment ministry official, had warned that Iraq could face “272 days of dust” a year in coming decades, according to the state news agency INA. AFP
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