The Epinhood (TEH)

ACUTE RESPIRATORY ILLNESS – IRAQ: (KIRKUK) DUST STORM EXPOSURE

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Date: Thu 3 Apr 2025
Source: Rudaw [in Kurdish, trans. Mod.NS, abridged, edited] https://www.rudaw.net/sorani/kurdistan/030420256

The Kirkuk Health Directorate said that 119 persons had been sent to
hospitals in Kirkuk due to a dust storm since yesterday [2 Apr 2025] and have received necessary treatment.

Heavy dust covered Kirkuk last night [2 Apr 2025]. Kirkuk health
officials said preparations were made before the dust storm, and those
sent to hospital due to shortness of breath were mostly in Kirkuk city
center.

Kirkuk health spokesman Saman Yaba said that those taken to hospitals
for shortness of breath were treated, and no deaths were recorded.

Twenty-three people were taken to Azadi Teaching Hospital, 36 to
Kirkuk Teaching Hospital, and 60 to Daquq General Hospital.

Meteorologist Mohammed Kamal said heavy dust covered western Iraq due
to southwest winds, affecting Kirkuk governorate and Garmian
administration [Sulaymaniyah governorate].

According to the weather forecaster, the effect of the dust continued
until 7 a.m. today [3 Apr 2025], and the weather has stabilized.

[Byline: Soran Hussain]