A massive sandstorm blanketed central and southern Iraq this week, overwhelming hospitals and forcing daily life to a halt. Health officials reported that "more than 1,000 people were treated for respiratory issues", as choking clouds of dust engulfed entire cities.

In the southern province of Muthanna alone, "at least 700 cases of suffocation were recorded," according to AFP.

Online footage captured a haunting scene—streets bathed in a thick, orange haze, as if the sky itself had descended. Planes were grounded, power was cut in some areas, and emergency crews were seen helping struggling civilians.

Residents and police donned face masks, bracing against the dense, gritty air. "It felt like the desert was swallowing the city whole," one witness said.

While Iraq is no stranger to dust storms, scientists are raising the alarm. "Climate change is believed to be intensifying the frequency and severity of these storms," environmental experts warn.

Sandstorms are a known threat in arid regions, but their reach is expanding, sometimes crashing into cities that are unprepared for such extreme weather events.