Iraq Sandstorm Leaves Many With Breathing Problems

3 minggu yang lalu

Alfie Tobutt

BBC World Service

Reporting fromLondon

Watch: Heavy sandstorm causes orangish haze and debased visibility crossed confederate Iraq

More than 1,000 group person been near pinch respiratory problems aft a sandstorm swept crossed Iraq's cardinal and confederate parts of nan country, wellness officials said.

One charismatic successful Muthanna state reported to nan AFP news agency astatine slightest 700 cases of what they said was suffocation.

Footage shared online showed areas cloaked successful a heavy orangish haze, pinch section media reporting powerfulness cuts and nan suspension of flights successful a number of regions.

Dust storms are communal successful Iraq, but immoderate experts judge they are becoming much predominant owed to ambiance change.

Getty Images A lone man rides his motorbike done an orangish haze pinch rows of agleam thoroughfare lights sparkling overheard successful Najaf, Iraq connected 14 April 2025. He rides underneath a span pinch agelong rows of planks stretching retired towards nan foreground.

Pedestrians and constabulary wore look masks to protect themselves from nan particulate and paramedics were connected tract to assistance group pinch trouble breathing, according to AFP.

Hospitals successful Muthanna state successful confederate Iraq received astatine slightest "700 cases of suffocation", a section wellness charismatic said.

More than 250 group were taken to infirmary successful Najaf province, and astatine slightest 322 patients including children were sent to hospitals successful Diwaniyah province.

A further 530 group reported breathing issues successful Dhi Qar and Basra provinces.

The sandstorm blanketed Iraq's confederate provinces successful an orangish unreality that reduced visibility to little than 1 kilometre (0.62 mile).

Getty Images Cars pinch reddish headlights thrust done nan orangish sandstorm connected a engaged roadworthy successful Najaf, Iraq connected 14 April 2025. Police wearing look masks and achromatic shirts motion to nonstop postulation successful nan orangish unreality of nan sandstorm.

The authorities were forced to unopen down airports successful nan provinces of Najaf and Basra.

Conditions are expected to gradually amended by Tuesday morning, according to section upwind services.

Iraq is listed by nan UN arsenic one of nan 5 countries astir susceptible to ambiance alteration arsenic it encounters regular sandstorms, sweltering power and h2o scarcity.

A terrible sandstorm successful 2022 near 1 personification dormant and much than 5,000 needing curen for respiratory illnesses.

Iraq will beryllium experiencing much "dust days" successful nan future, according to its situation ministry.

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