Sandstorm leaves more than 3,700 hospitalized in Iraq
The strong wind, mixed with desert sand, turned the sky in Iraq a deep orange colour on April 15
A sandstorm in Iraq on April 15 has led to thousands seeking medical treatment for respiratory problems.
Officials stated that over 3,700 patients from the southern provinces were treated in emergency rooms due to the adverse impacts of the sandstorm.
The severity of the storm significantly hindered travel, with visibility being drastically reduced, forcing residents to remain indoors.
SEE ALSO: How a sandstorm helped the coalition forces during 2003 invasion of Iraq
Iraq is quite familiar with sandstorms; however, experts are predicting that their occurrence may become more frequent as weather patterns change. Last year, the BBC reported a comparable event which resulted in one fatality, and over 5,000 hospitalizations.
This latest storm is a reminder of how powerful and sudden nature can be in certain desert climates.
With files from Reuters
Thumbnail image courtesy: Latin America News Agency via Reuters