At least 1800 hospitalised in Iraq as sandstorm halts flights and triggers power outages

Sandstorms in central and southern Iraq have led to the hospitalisation of more than 1,800 people due to respiratory issues, health officials said.

Mazen al-Egeili, a local official in the Muthanna province in the south of the country told AFPnews agency that at least 700 people were hospitalised due to suffocation on Monday.