Frightening images: A sandstorm raged over Egypt. One person died, two others were injured.
Munich/Cairo – Impressive images have been appearing on the Internet in recent days. But as impressive as they are, they are just as frightening. A sandstorm raged in Egypt. Several ports had to be closed, there was one dead and injured.
+The sandstorm sweeps across Cairo.
© Imago/Sui Xiankai
Videos on Twitter and Co.: Entire ships are overrun by the wave of sand
A wave of sand rolls along a highway until the entire environment is swallowed up and shrouded in darkness. Entire ships are overrun by the sandstorm. These and similar videos can currently be found on Twitter and other social networks. And also about the storms with severe flooding in Italy, some videos and pictures circulated on social networks.
pic.twitter.com/zSPUwgtILL Another video of the sandstorm in Egypt
— Ahmed Shawkat | أحمد شوكت (@AhmedShawkatCBS) June 1, 2023
Trigger for the sandstorm in Egypt: A low-pressure area between Libya and Egypt
According to Wetter online, the trigger for the sandstorm was a low-pressure area between Libya and Egypt. As a result, stormy winds arose in Egypt on Thursday, carrying the sand from the desert areas to the densely populated areas in northeastern Egypt.
This is how a sandstorm is formed
- Caused by: strong local pressure contrasts/local to regional heating and strong convection/large-scale and long-term air mass contrasts and pressure equalization
- Flow energy of the wind is transferred to the ground surface
- Leads to rapid absorption of sand
- Sand is transported on the ground or in the air, depending on the grain size
- Can also reach other continents depending on weather conditions
- (Source: Spektrum der Wissenschaft)
One dead in sandstorm in Egypt
One person was killed in the natural phenomenon and two were injured, according to ahram online. The cause: a billboard that had fallen over due to the strong wind and crashed into a car and a motorcycle. In addition, two ports on the Red Sea had to be closed for the time being.
+A sandstorm knocked down this billboard in Cairo, killing a man
© KHALED DESOUKI AFP
Minister advises: Elderly people and people with respiratory diseases should stay at home
According to ahram online, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority directed the population to wear face masks outdoors. In addition, according to Egypt's Minister of the Environment, Yasmine Fouad, it is mainly the elderly and people with respiratory diseases who spend most of their time indoors.
Recently, there was also a sandstorm in the United States. This triggered a mass pile-up – with serious consequences: several people lost their lives.
Category list image: © Imago/Sui Xiankai
