January 19, 2018•Update: January 19, 2018
By Ahmet Kaplan and Halil İbrahim Sincar
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey
Strong winds carrying dust from Syria and Iraq have hampered daily life in southeastern Turkey.
According to Turkey's regional meteorological authorities, windy conditions and heavy dust reduced visibility and air quality in southeastern provinces Diyarbakir, Sirnak, Mardin, Sanliurfa and Batman.
Dust clouds accompanied by muddy rain engulfed the area into darkness, even during the day. The weather is expected to continue into the evening.
In Mardin province, which remained the most affected, the disabled, unwell, and pregnant women were given a day's leave from work.
The sky turned red near the Syrian border and parents refrained from sending their children to school.
An Izmir-Mardin flight landed in Diyarbakir Airport due to the dust cloud and flights between Ankara and Mardin were cancelled.
