A significant dust storm swept through Libya on Tuesday, causing low visibility and leading to the temporary closure of flights at Benghazi and Tripoli international airports. The nation, situated in the Sahara Desert, is susceptible to dust storms as they are a seasonal occurrence, typically peaking in April during the spring season. These storms form when powerful winds from thunderstorms lift loose dry soil, carrying dust and sand over long distances in the air.
Benghazi, the second-largest city in Libya located on the eastern coast, experienced the most severe impact from the storm, with the city enveloped in a thick orange haze. The scenes were quite surreal, resembling imagery from the movie “Dune.” Photographs captured during the dust storm show the cityscape shrouded in the dusty orange atmosphere, creating an otherworldly appearance.
Image sources:
1. A man capturing a building scene amid the dust storm. (Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters)
2. Pigeons gathered near a fountain during the dust storm. (Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters)
3. Men taking photos by the seaside under the orange skies of the dust storm. (Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters)
4. The corniche in Benghazi covered in dust during the storm. (Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters)