Author: Alissa J. Rubin and Falih Hassan
Published on: 15/04/2025 | 00:00:00
AI Summary:
Sandstorm Turns Iraq’s Skies Orange and Sends Thousands to Hospitals Climate experts say such storms are becoming more frequent and severe in the country. This was its worst of the year so far. A severe sandstorm has swept across central and southern Iraq over the last two days, turning the sky a strange orange. Two airports suspended flights because of poor visibility, and the usually crowded highways of Basra were nearly empty. The “heavy waves of dust” had blown across the country after originating in eastern Saudi Arabia, a largely desert area. More than 1,000 of those were recorded in Basra, where the storm was especially severe on Monday, and 451 were in Najaf, a far smaller city. Also badly affected were residents of Muthanna Province, which shares a long border with Saudi Arabia, he said. A brewing shift toward religious conservatism has emerged from the political vacuum in the country of 175 million people.
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