A dangerous sandstorm raged through central and southern Iraq on Monday, taking more than 1,800 to hospitals with breathing difficulties, health officials said. The storm, which was the most severe of the year, also prompted authorities to close airports temporarily and greatly lowered visibility in the affected areas.
Widespread Respiratory Emergencies
Hospitals in Muthanna province alone received more than 700 cases of suffocation, local health official Mazen al-Egeili confirmed. Najaf province reported over 250 hospitalizations, while Diwaniyah province saw 322 patients, including children, seeking urgent care.
In Dhi Qar and Basra, more than 530 people were treated for breathing problems.
An AFP photographer in Najaf captured scenes of residents and police wearing masks in the thick orange haze. Inside ambulances, paramedics assisted struggling patients; one image showed a young man gasping for air while being attended to.
Travel Disruptions and Poor Visibility
The sandstorm forced the temporary closure of airports in Najaf and Basra due to dangerously low visibility, less than one kilometer (0.62 miles) in some areas. The Iraqi weather service expects the storm to gradually clear by Tuesday morning.
Climate Change and Iraq’s Vulnerability
According to the United Nations, Iraq is among the five countries most impacted by climate change, experiencing frequent and worsening dust storms, extreme heat, and environmental degradation.
The Iraqi environment ministry has warned that the country will face an increasing number of “dust days” in the coming decades if no action is taken.
In 2022, a similar sandstorm claimed one life and led to over 5,000 hospitalizations for respiratory issues.
