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Sand storm in Wassit causes 278 suffocations
Here's a weather disaster you don't read about every day...
WASSIT / Aswat al-Iraq: Southern Iraq’s Wassit Province has witnessed a strong sand storm that caused loss of sight and 278 suffocation cases among its citizens, Wassit’s Health Director said on Wednesday.

“A sand storm hit Wassit Province since Tuesday night, causing loss of sight, closing all shops, along with several suffocation cases,” Falah Qassim told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

He said the Province’s hospitals had received 278 cases of suffocation, caused by the sand storm, out of which 100 cases were registered in Kut, the center of Wassit Province. Sand storms have covered several Iraqi provinces since Tuesday night.
Posted by: Steve White 2011-04-16
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=320507