A powerful sandstorm swept across southern and central Iraq, forcing airport closures and hospitalising more than 3,700 people with breathing difficulties, the health ministry said.
Visibility dropped to less than one kilometre in many cities as thick orange dust blanketed the skies.
Flights at Basra and Najaf airports were suspended until conditions improved, authorities confirmed.
Ministry spokesperson Saif al-Badr told state news agency INA that 3,747 individuals were admitted to hospitals in Baghdad and other provinces. Baghdad recorded at least 1,014 cases, while the southern province of al-Muthanna reported 874.
“The majority of patients were treated for dust inhalation and respiratory distress,” he said.
Most of those affected have since been discharged, and no fatalities were recorded. “We have not faced any problems in providing medicines, medical supplies, or oxygen,” Badr said.
AFP images showed residents in Basra navigating near-empty streets, many wearing face masks.
Wheelchair-bound individuals were assisted across roads with barely visible traffic islands.
Sandstorms are a common occurrence in Iraq, but the environment ministry has warned of an increasing number of “dust days” in the coming years due to desertification and climate change.
In 2022, a similarly intense storm left one dead and over 5,000 hospitalised. Experts say worsening weather events pose a growing challenge to public health and infrastructure in the region.
Sandstorms are a frequent hazard in Iraq, but scientists warn they are increasing in intensity and frequency due to desertification and global climate shifts. The United Nations classifies Iraq as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change.
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