Sandstorms across the Middle East have delayed flights, closed schools and hospitalised thousands -- a phenomenon experts say could worsen as climate change warps regional weather patterns.
Iraq is prone to seasonal sandstorms, a type of dust storm in desert areas, but experts and officials are raising alarm over their frequency in recent years, which they say is exacerbated by record-low rainfall, desertification and climate change.
Much of northern China remained blanketed under sand and dust on Wednesday although the worst sandstorm recorded in a decade was expected to gradually settle from Thursday as cold and wet weather fronts moved in.
