'Apocalyptic' Dust Storm That Killed Four People Could Hit Europe This Month

'Apocalyptic' Dust Storm That Killed Four People Could Hit Europe This Month 

An 'apocalyptic' dust storm that killed four people and hospitalised thousands could hit Europe as early as next week. A number of countries in the Middle East have been suffering from extreme weather caused by climate change, leading to orange-coloured, dust-laden skies. In mid-May, a sandstorm blanketed areas in Iraq, Syria and Iran, and now hospitals are overrun with patients experiencing breathing difficulties. The Iraqi Ministries of Health and Electricity announced a state of emergency due to the severe dust clouds hitting the country. Flights at Baghdad Airport have also been suspended while the Iraqi authorities ordered government offices to shut in several regions, and at least four people are reported to have died in Iraq and Syria from the gritty haze in the atmosphere. Various Middle Eastern regions have been experiencing the extreme weather since March, driven by severe droughts, rising temperatures and less rainfall due to global warming. Speaking to the Guardian, Nasim Hossein Hamzeh, a dust researcher at Fan Gostar Air and Climate, a climate consulting company in Iran, said: “The increasing frequency of dust storms means more problems, more loss of life and property, and more destruction." Source