Video: watson/Emanuella Kälin
May 19, 2026, 2:29 p.mMay 19, 2026, 3:30 p.m
According to authorities, 837 people were registered with symptoms of suffocation within two days in Iraq as a result of a severe sand and dust storm.
As the Iraqi Ministry of Health announced, several provinces in the country are affected. The health authorities in Baghdad and other regions remain on heightened alert to ensure medical care and treatment for the population.
Video: watson/Emanuella Kälin
Pictures on social media showed how, among other things, the capital Baghdad was enveloped in orange haze. Sandstorms are not uncommon in Iraq. Especially in summer, the desert area experiences strong northwesterly winds that blow across the floodplains of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Image: keystone
At the same time, the country is increasingly struggling with drought. In addition to climate change, a failed water policy is also to blame. The dust particles significantly worsen the air quality. (sda/dpa)
Image: keystone