While sandstorms are a seasonal occurrence, experts assert they are becoming more intense and frequent, largely as a result of longer drought periods and ongoing desertification affecting Iraq and surrounding countries like Syria. The recent storm is noted as the most severe of 2025, following other notable storms in Baghdad in December and various instances throughout 2022. Iraq ranks as the fifth most vulnerable nation to the impacts of climate change, facing extreme heat and dwindling water resources.
Although conditions began to improve with lower temperatures following the storm, southern Iraq had recently sweltered under temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. People took precautions by wearing masks while outdoors, particularly emergency personnel. Reports indicate that hospitals in the affected areas witnessed 3,747 cases of breathing difficulties, with over 1,000 incidents in Basra alone. Additional regions, like Muthanna Province, also faced similar respiratory challenges. Public authorities issued advice for families, emphasizing the importance of reassuring children during the storm to aid their sleep.
Although conditions began to improve with lower temperatures following the storm, southern Iraq had recently sweltered under temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. People took precautions by wearing masks while outdoors, particularly emergency personnel. Reports indicate that hospitals in the affected areas witnessed 3,747 cases of breathing difficulties, with over 1,000 incidents in Basra alone. Additional regions, like Muthanna Province, also faced similar respiratory challenges. Public authorities issued advice for families, emphasizing the importance of reassuring children during the storm to aid their sleep.
