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Sandstorm closes schools in Saudi Arabia and Qatar

Public and private schools in Riyadh and Eastern Province shut on Thursday

Manama: All public and private schools in the Riyadh region and the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia will remain closed on Thursday, officials have said.

The decision to suspend classes was taken as a precautionary measure following the severe sandstorm that hit the country, they said.

Nine universities and colleges also said they would be shut on Thursday.

The traffic department in the capital Riyadh urged motorists to be extremely careful as visibility was dramatically reduced.

A traffic officer said that 354 accidents occurred in Riyadh in 12 hours on Wednesday afternoon and evening when visibility was reduced to a few metres.

The Ministry of Health urged citizens and expatriates, especially those affected by asthma and other respiratory diseases, to stay indoors during the sandstorm and not to venture out without masks.

The ministry warned that sandstorms were a major cause of bacterial and viral infections and posed serious health risks especially for people with pulmonary problems. It urged all residents to shut doors and windows.

The Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) had warned that a dust wave accompanied by poor visibility would sweep several regions of the Kingdom, especially the central, eastern and north eastern regions on Wednesday.

The storm is expected to prevail until late Thursday or Friday.

In neighbouring Bahrain, flights into Bahrain were temporarily suspended on Wednesday night due to unstable weather conditions, an official source at Bahrain International Airport said. However, outbound flights took off as scheduled.

The Meteorological Directorate said the dust haze would continue on Thursday, with strong to gale-force winds possible. The horizontal visibility will be below 1,000 metres and motorists and sailors were urged to be cautious.

In Kuwait, the Meteorological Department issued a warning that wind speed could reach over 70 km per hour. Visibility will lower to less than 1,000 m due to the northwesterly winds, Mohammad Karam, the head of the department, said.

In a press statement, the interior ministry called on all people to take the required measures for the safety of their families and instructed drivers to abide by speed limits.

Qatar was enveloped by a dense haze late on Wednesday, disrupting traffic and confining people to their homes and offices.

"Most parts of the country are affected by strong dust storm. Please be extra cautious while driving. All parts of the country will be affected by strong dust storm by late night," the interior ministry said.

"Visibility is reduced to zero on Salwa Road and some southern areas of the country due to thick dust.”

Drivers were urged to exercise the greatest care.

The Supreme Education Council (SEC) said all independent and private schools would remain shut on Thursday.

Students scheduled to sit for exams will be given another date, it added.

Sandstorm Causes Chaos Across the UAE!

Top tips for staying safe during the Saudi shamal that’s wreaking havoc across the Gulf

If you opened your curtains to a wall of orange fog, you’re not alone.

Zero visibility caused by a major sandstorm is causing chaos across the UAE, prompting several government agencies to issue advice on how to stay safe.

People with dust allergies and respiratory illnesses such as asthma shouldn’t leave the house, said the National Centre for Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), adding that anyone who has to go outside today should wear sunglasses to guard against eye grit and consider covering their mouth and nose with a wet napkin or mask.

It also issued the following tips for drivers:

- If you’re using air conditioning, shut the external air inlet hole.

- Be careful when passing by side or under the billboards or lampposts.

- Avoid sand dunes on external and open roads, especially while driving, as the wind can move large amounts of sand onto the Tarmac.

Dubai Police urged drivers to make sure their cars’ lights were on and to keep a sufficient distance from other vehicles while on the roads, adding that visibility has dropped to as low as 100m in the emirate’s Jebel Ali area.

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