A severe sandstorm has swept across central and southern Iraq over the past two days, creating an orange-tinged sky and reducing visibility to less than half a mile in some areas. This phenomenon has led to several thousand individuals seeking treatment in emergency rooms for respiratory issues.
Two airports have suspended flights due to the decreased visibility, while the usually busy highways of Basra, the largest city in southern Iraq, were nearly deserted as high winds affected the region.
Amir al-Jabri, spokesman for Iraq’s meteorology department, indicated that the “heavy waves of dust” originated in eastern Saudi Arabia, a desert region, and collected more particles as it moved through southwestern Iraq, which is also arid.
While sandstorms are a typical occurrence in Iraq during winter and early spring, climate experts have noted an increase in their frequency and intensity as Iraq and neighboring Syria face prolonged droughts and expanding desertification affecting formerly fertile land.
This storm marks the most severe in Iraq for 2025, following a similarly impactful storm that paralyzed Baghdad in December and several others throughout 2022.
The United Nations classifies Iraq as the fifth most vulnerable country regarding climate change impacts, including extreme temperatures and reduced water availability.
Although the storm began to subside on Tuesday with slightly lower temperatures, southern Iraq had been experiencing daily highs exceeding 100 degrees before the storm reduced sunlight and temperatures.
During the storm, many individuals wore face masks for protection, particularly police officers and emergency personnel working outdoors, while others used cloths to cover their mouths.
The pervasive sand and dust infiltrated homes and vehicles, settling through small openings and covering surfaces, which hindered work on computers and confined most residents indoors except for emergency workers.
Iraq’s health ministry spokesman, Saif al-Badr, reported that emergency rooms in the south treated 3,747 cases of respiratory problems related to the storm, with over 1,000 cases in Basra and 451 in Najaf. Residents of Muthanna Province, adjacent to Saudi Arabia, were also significantly affected, although most patients have since been released.
The Basra police department issued guidelines for residents, advising families to explain the storm to young children to alleviate their fears and help them sleep soundly.