Sandstorms lye Middle East, dozens of hospital admissions

A view of the city of Homs in Syria affected by sandstorms. (Reuters)

Sand storm struck the western region of the Middle East, causing dozens of people were hospitalized and encourage officials issued a health warning.



The storm hit some areas in Syria on Monday (07/09), and on Tuesday morning (08/09) spread to several other countries.

Most of Lebanon, Israel, Turkey, and Cyprus affected by these sand storms.

Lebanon's official news agency proclaim a woman died in northern Lebanon and at least 80 people were hospitalized due to respiratory problems.

Because of this storm the Israeli Environment Ministry also asked the children, pregnant women and elderly people to stay at home.

The impact of sandstorms in the Syrian capital, Damascus, as immortalized by the BBC's Jeremy Bowen.

Media in Syria while it says because of the storm, the battle in the province of Idlib and Hama stalled.

Syrian pro-government newspaper, al-Watan, said sandstorms make prohibit military helicopters owned by the government to fly.

Bad weather is partly caused by the low pressure system in the entire region and the sand is blown from the east, the official news agency SANA.

According to SANA, poor visibility will continue for the next few days. (bbc)