A severe dust storm swept through Libya on Tuesday, causing low visibility and leading to the temporary closure of flights at Benghazi and Tripoli international airports. Located in the Sahara Desert, Libya is susceptible to dust storms, which are a common occurrence during the spring months, with the peak usually in April. These storms are created when strong winds from thunderstorms lift loose, dry soil, carrying dust and sand over long distances in the air.
Benghazi, the country’s second-largest city situated on the eastern coast, was particularly hard-hit by the storm, cloaked in a thick orange haze. The scene resembled something out of a sci-fi movie, reminiscent of the visuals from “Dune.”
Images captured during the dust storm show a man photographing a building, pigeons near a fountain, people taking photos by the seaside, and an empty road along the coast covered in an orange hue due to the storm’s effects.