\nturning orange as the storm spread across the province after intensifying in
\nAl-Anbar province.
![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779115973138.webp\"\/)
<\/p>\n\n 2026-05-18T16:28:47+00:00<\/p>\n
font<\/p>\n
Enable Reading Mode<\/p>\n
\n A-
\n A
\n A+\n <\/p>\n
Shafaq News- Baghdad\/ Babil<\/p>\n
A massive dust storm sweeping across western Iraq
\nreached Baghdad on Monday before moving south toward Babil province, as
\nauthorities issued health warnings and urged residents to remain indoors.<\/p>\n
Shafaq News images from Babil showed the skies
\nturning orange as the storm spread across the province after intensifying in
\nAl-Anbar province.<\/p>\n
Najaf Health Directorate chief Abdullah Mohammed
\nAl-Ghazali instructed hospitals to raise their medical preparedness levels in
\nresponse to the dusty conditions, calling for direct supervision of emergency
\nwards and the full presence of doctors, health workers, and nursing staff,
\nalongside adequate supplies of medicines and medical equipment, particularly
\nfor suffocation, asthma, and allergy cases.<\/p>\n
Authorities also urged citizens to follow safety guidelines and stay indoors
\nas much as possible until weather conditions improve and stability gradually
\nreturns.![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779115973121.webp\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Iraq has experienced a sharp rise in dust storms during the 2025 season,
\nwith repeated waves disrupting daily life, grounding flights, and sending
\nthousands to hospitals with respiratory problems. Environmental experts link
\nthe worsening storms to drought, desertification, declining vegetation cover,
\nand climate change, warning that Iraq is becoming increasingly vulnerable to
\nextreme weather events. <\/p>\n