ALBAWABA - Health authorities in Iraq have recorded more than 3,700 cases of suffocation due to a sandstorm that hit central and southern Iraq, local media reported on Tuesday.
The sandstorm reduced visibility in several areas and disrupted air traffic at Najaf and Basra international airports.
In detail, hospitals in Muthanna Governorate recorded more than 700 suffocation cases, while more than 250 others were admitted to hospitals for the same reason in Najaf Governorate.
On the other hand, Iraqi authorities warned people who are most affected by the storms for instance people who have chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and the elderly with heart failure, not to go outside in the sandstorm.
It's worth noting that Iraq experienced a similar sandstorm in 2022, which resulted in at least one death and nearly 5,000 hospitalizations due to respiratory problems.
