Video: Iraq Engulfed by sandstorm, thousands hospitalized

Authorities said Tuesday that a massive sandstorm swept across Iraq, closing airports and sending thousands to hospitals with severe respiratory issues. The storm, which blanketed central and southern regions in an orange haze, reduced visibility to less than a kilometre and forced the closure of Basra and Najaf airports.

According to Iraq’s health ministry, more than 3,700 people sought medical treatment for breathing problems, with Basra suffering the most severe impact—over 1,000 hospital admissions reported in the province alone.

Residents braved the dusty air wearing face masks as the storm slowly began to ease Tuesday morning. While sandstorms are common in Iraq, experts warn that climate change could significantly increase the frequency of such events in the years ahead.

This latest storm echoes a similar incident in 2022 when over 5,000 people were hospitalized, and one person died.