Baghdad Covered in Sand... Respiratory Patients Surge, Planes Unable to Take Off

Streets of Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, covered in yellow dust [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] In Iraq, thick yellow dust and strong winds are causing a surge in patients and numerous incidents such as flights being unable to take off.

According to major foreign media, on the 1st (local time), Jihad Al Diwan, spokesperson for the Iraq Civil Aviation Authority, stated, "Flights at Baghdad and Najaf airports are being disrupted due to dust." Visibility is less than 500 meters, and operations are expected to resume only after the weather improves.

Currently, dust is accumulating on the streets and vehicles in Baghdad, and drivers are keeping their headlights on during the day to secure visibility.

The number of people complaining of respiratory illnesses is also increasing. In Najaf, southern Iraq, about 60 people visited hospitals due to respiratory diseases caused by sandstorms. In Anbar Province, which has many deserts in the west, about 30 people are reported to have been hospitalized.

This phenomenon is analyzed to have been caused by reduced rainfall due to drought and desertification. Last month, several sandstorms hit Iraq, causing flight departures to fail at airports such as Baghdad, Najaf, and Erbil.

Experts expressed concern that Iraq could suffer socio-economic damage due to the climate crisis. In November last year, the World Bank warned that Iraq's water resources could decrease by 20% by 2050 due to climate change.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.