Massive dust storm sweeps Kuwait

Kuwait city: A dust storm swept across Kuwait and other countries in the Middle East, reducing visibility.

According to details, an unusually high number of sandstorms has engulfed parts of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia in recent months.

The dusty storms has sent thousands to hospitals with breathing problems and caused the closure of airports, schools, and government offices.

On Monday, the skies in Kuwait turned orange as a severe sandstorm blanketed the country, forcing airport authorities to suspend all flights for the second time this month due to the weather phenomenon.

Officials and experts are blaming the growing frequency and intensity of sandstorms in the region on the mismanagement of agricultural areas, an ongoing drought, and the effects of climate change.

“Commercial flights will be rescheduled because of current weather patterns, while air traffic will resume normally only once the dust storm subsides,” said Emad Al Juluwi, Kuwait Civil Aviation's deputy director general for Air Navigation Services Affairs.

Kuwait's Ministry of Interior warned all citizens and residents on Monday of the unstable weather caused by the dust storm and of poor visibility on the roads for most of the day.

As per media reports, at least 4,000 people were taken to hospital two weeks ago in Iraq with respiratory issues, where nine sandstorms have hit the country since mid-April.

The National Centre of Meteorology issued a warning that a number of Saudi cities will be affected by dense winds that may lead to dust storms— including Tabuk, Makkah and Madinah.