Severe dust storms hit Iraq and Iran
Severe dust storms swept across Iraq and Iran on Saturday, December 14, 2024, injuring at least 65 people and prompting officials to close schools and cancel flights. In Iran, the storm was described as one of the worst in recent years.
Image credit: NOAA-21/VIIRS, The Watchers. Acquired on December 14, 2024
A severe dust storm blanketed the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on December 14, reducing visibility in some areas to just a few meters.
The storm’s intensity led to widespread medical emergencies across the country, with 65 individuals in Saladin Province seeking medical assistance for breathing difficulties on December 14. The affected were treated at a hospital in Balad district.
People venturing outside were advised to wear surgical masks or cover their faces with scarves for protection. The streets appeared desolate as residents struggled against the thick layers of airborne dust.
State-run media confirmed the suspension of all flights in the affected areas until conditions improve.
In neighboring Iran, the same dust storm wreaked havoc in the oil-rich provinces of Khuzestan and Bushehr, over 400 km (250 miles) southwest of Tehran. Local reports indicated visibility dropped to just 100 m (330 feet), forcing schools and public services to shut down for the day.
In Abadan, located in Khuzestan Province, air quality levels reached a hazardous index value of AQI 500 on December 15, exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) standards for acceptable pollution levels by more than 25 times.
Residents donned masks and stayed indoors to limit exposure to the storm, which was described as one of the most intense in recent years.
Dust and sandstorms, while common in the region, have intensified over recent years. Experts attribute this to deforestation, overuse of river water, overgrazing, and prolonged droughts.
Iran, with its population of over 85 million, has experienced repeated droughts and flooding, exacerbated by environmental mismanagement and shifting weather patterns.
In September 2023, a severe dust storm in Sistan-Baluchistan province left 3 dead and over 1 300 hospitalized.
References:
1 Dust storm triggers 65 suffocation cases in Saladin – Safaq news – December 15, 2024
2 Iran sandstorm forces school closures, flight cancellations – Gulf news – December 15, 2024
3 Heavy sand storm covers the Iraqi capital of Baghdad – AP news – December 15, 2024
4 Abadan Air Quality Index (AQI) – AQI – December 16, 2024
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
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