Dust clouds in southeastern Turkey hamper daily life, impairs visibility

DİYARBAKIR

Strong winds carrying dust from Syria and Iraq hampered daily life in southeastern Turkey on Jan. 19.

According to Turkey’s regional meteorological authorities, windy conditions couple with heavy dust reduced visibility and air quality in the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakır, Şırnak, Mardin, Şanlıurfa and Batman, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Dust clouds accompanied by muddy rain caused the area to descend into darkness, even during the day. The weather is expected to continue into the evening of Jan. 19.

In the worst-hit province of Mardin, the disabled, unwell, and pregnant women were given a day’s leave from work.

The sky turned red near the Syrian border and parents refrained from sending their children to school.

An Izmir-Mardin flight landed in Diyarbakır Airport because of the dust cloud and flights between Ankara and Mardin were cancelled.