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May 9, 2025 - Dust Storm in Iraq
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On May 5, 2025, a severe dust storm swept across Iraq, turning skies orange and sickening numerous people. According to ReliefWeb, nearly 550 people were hospitalized in the country following the storm, despite urging by authorities to stay indoors and take precautionary measures. Airborne dust is respiratory irritant and can trigger severe breathing issues in people with respiratory illness, the elderly, and very young.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of the dust storm blowing across Iraq near the peak of the storm on May 5. The tan dust is so thick that it is impossible to view the ground underneath. The city of Baghdad appears to be completely enveloped by the edge of the thickest swath of dust.
On the next day, the storm rolled into Iran, coating seven western provinces with dust, according to media reports. Some schools and offices were closed until the dust cleared. Government warnings to stay indoors were estimated to have impacted about 13 million people.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 5/5/2025
Resolutions:
1km (388.4 KB), 500m (969.1 KB), 250m (610.3 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
On May 5, 2025, a severe dust storm swept across Iraq, turning skies orange and sickening numerous people. According to ReliefWeb, nearly 550 people were hospitalized in the country following the storm, despite urging by authorities to stay indoors and take precautionary measures. Airborne dust is respiratory irritant and can trigger severe breathing issues in people with respiratory illness, the elderly, and very young.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of the dust storm blowing across Iraq near the peak of the storm on May 5. The tan dust is so thick that it is impossible to view the ground underneath. The city of Baghdad appears to be completely enveloped by the edge of the thickest swath of dust.
On the next day, the storm rolled into Iran, coating seven western provinces with dust, according to media reports. Some schools and offices were closed until the dust cleared. Government warnings to stay indoors were estimated to have impacted about 13 million people.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 5/5/2025
Resolutions:
1km (388.4 KB), 500m (969.1 KB), 250m (610.3 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
