Strong desert winds whipped up a severe sandstorm that engulfed Cairo and other parts of Egypt on Tuesday, forcing the closure of Cairo International Airport due to poor visibility.
Cairo’s airport authorities announced at 8am GMT that visibility was reduced to 100m, leading to the cancellations of more than 15 departures, mostly to Europe. All incoming flights were diverted to airports in the Red Sea resort towns of Hurgada and Sharm el-Sheik.
Aviation officials said they expected the situation to ease at about 1pm GMT.
Meanwhile, police said they had initial reports of car accidents and that some elderly people with breathing problems were rushed to hospitals. A blanket of orange dust hung in the air in Cairo, where it was impossible to see across the Nile River.
Each spring, Egypt is hit by sand storms, known as the khamaseen, or the 50-day wind, that deposit a layer of fine sand on buildings and cars. — Sapa-AP