More than 3,700 people have been hospitalized in Iraq for suffocation and respiratory difficulties Due to a great sand storm that hit broad regions of the center, south and east of the Arab country on Monday night to Tuesday, official sources reported.
The storm affected more than seven provinces, especially southern Basora and Nayaf, as well as Maysan Y MuthanA (East) but also Bagdadalthough with less force.
Health and transport authorities declared themselves in emergency throughout the night And until Tuesday morning in the affected regions, while traffic at Basora airport was temporarily suspended during the storm.
“The number of cases of asphyxiation recorded due to the dust storm has reached 3,747 cases In emergency rooms in Baghdad and the governorates, “said the spokesman of the Ministry of Health, Saif al Badr on Tuesday.
He pointed out that “the greatest number of infections was recorded in the governorate Basora, with 1,041 cases, followed by Muthana, with 874 cases, Maysan with 628 cases and Nayaf, with 451 cases. “
The spokesman, cited by the official Iraqi news agency, ina, also said that “Most of these cases have been completely recovered and have left the hospital after receiving the necessary treatment (…) in emergency rooms. “
The Governor of Basora, Asad al Eidani, announced in a statement to suspend work in the different administrations of that province during Tuesday “Due to bad climatic conditions.”
Basora authorities also had to close the airport of the Government temporarily during the night, although in Baghdad the Ministry of Transportation assured that the airport of the capital “remains open”, thus deniving information that circulated in the networks about the suspension of some flights.
“The space remains open at the Baghdad International Airport and There are no flight suspensions “said the spokesman of the aforementioned department, Maizam al Safi, and pointed out: “The ministry is monitoring the situation and will take the appropriate measures depending on the nature of it.”
Iraq is a country particularly vulnerable to climate change, since in recent years it has already been witness of low rainfall and high temperatures, as well as numerous sand storms.
One of the largest occurred in May 2022 and caused the death of at least one person and more than 5,000 hospitalized.
