Aussie dust storm creates poor visibility, health warning issued

Friday, November 23, 2018

A public health warning has been issued by the authorities for Sydney on Thursday as the 500km-wide (310 miles) dust band reached the city and caused flight delays.

Many regions elsewhere in New South Wales (NSW) have had poor visibility.

Authorities said the storm was driven by strong winds picking up dry soil.

The problem has been exacerbated by a drought that has affected the entire state of NSW since August, according to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology.

Paramedics said dozens of people had reported breathing or asthma difficulties on Thursday, but the number affected by dust was not immediately clear.

In Sydney, the dust darkened skies and caused “hazardous” air quality readings in some suburbs.

Health officials urged locals to stay indoors, particularly children, older people and those with respiratory problems.

The Sydney dust storm has drawn comparisons to a more intense event which shrouded the city in 2009.

The dust storm left hundreds of people suffering from breathing difficulties, and forced the grounding of flights.

One resident in Broken Hill, a town 1,100km west of Sydney, said the dust had lingered for hours on Wednesday.

“The winds were also so strong that you had to hold the car door open or it would just slam back into your face.”

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