Saudi capital covered in dust after sandstorm
Last Updated: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 | 2:38 PM ET
The Associated Press
The storm, seen here moving over Riyadh, raged for hours and disrupted flights at the city's King Khalid International airport. (Jad Saab/Associated Press)Residents of Saudi Arabia's capital are cleaning up after a huge sandstorm blanketed the city with a thick layer of yellow dust.
Cars and houses in Riyadh were left covered by sand after the Tuesday storm forced the closure of the international airport and shut down schools.
The Saudi Press Agency said flights to Khaled International Airport were diverted to airports in Jeddah and Dammam. The airport has since reopened.
Hospitals dispatched emergency teams to dozens of residents suffering from breathing problems.
Billowing clouds of sand engulfed the city and surrounding areas, forcing drivers to slow to a crawl and people to stay indoors.
Sandstorms are common in Saudi Arabia during the spring.
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