Desert dust storm chokes Sydney Wednesday, 23 September 2009

Desert dust storm chokes Sydney Wednesday, 23 September 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8270104.stm

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/gallery/gallery-e6frewxi-1225778417848?page=44

A large stretch of Australia’s east coast, including the largest city Sydney,

has been shrouded in red dust blown in from the desert outback.

Visibility in Sydney was so bad that flights were diverted and harbour ferry traffic disrupted.

Landmarks such as the opera house were obscured, and many residents took to wearing masks.

Emergency services reported a surge in calls from people with breathing problems.

Dust storms are common in the arid "red centre" of Australia,

but they rarely reach the populated coastal regions.

The storm crippled the transportation system,

with long delays to flights and bumper-to-bumper traffic on major roads.

Children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems were told to stay indoors

until the dust had cleared later on Wednesday.

It was blown out to sea and up the coast by the strong winds.

On Wednesday morning, the dust storm stretched hundreds of kilometres along the coast of

Australia, a scientist with the New South Wales (NSW) government told the Sydney Morning

Herald newspaper.

Satellite photo

Sydney Dust Storm, 23 September 2009, Sydney, Australia was overtaken by it’s worst dust storm in years, overtaking the city’s monuments and sinking deep within its buildings and underground railroad. The dust produced an alien orange hue to the sky, reminiscent of the skies of Mars. The storm drove photographers into the streets to capture the once-in-a-lifetime event, when the largest city in Australia was overcome by a palpable dust that blotted out the sun.

BeforeBefore

During Dust StormDuring Dust Storm

On a ‘Normal Day’ On a ‘Normal Day’

OPERA HOUSEOPERA HOUSE

During Dust StormDuring Dust Storm

After After During Dust StormDuring Dust Storm