Riyadh covered in dust after severe sandstorm closes airport, schools

Riyadh: Residents of Saudi Arabia's capital are cleaning up after a huge sandstorm blanketed the city with a thick layer of yellow dust.

Cars and houses are covered by sand one day after the Tuesday storm forced the closure of the international airport and shut down schools.

The Saudi Press Agency says flights to Khaled International Airport were diverted Tuesday to airports in Jeddah and Dammam. The airport has since reopened.

Hospitals dispatched emergency teams to dozens of residents suffering from breathing problems.

Billowing clouds of sand engulfed the city and surrounding areas, forcing drivers to slow to a crawl and people to stay indoors.

Sandstorms are common in Saudi Arabia during the spring.