Women cover their face near the River Nile during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's capital Cairo and some of its port cities were hit by a severe sandstorm, with strong winds and heavy dust forcing the closure of several ports.
Pedestrians ducked into buildings for cover as a dark orange cloud descended on Cairo, with many using surgical masks to shield themselves against the sand blowing in the wind.
Motorists complained of reduced visibility on the highways leading in and out of the city.
A man covers his face during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
"The color of the air is changing. There is some kind of fog. No one can see. So I hope God will get us through this, given that we’re riding motorcycles," said Mahmoud, a motorcycle driver.
Sources at Cairo airport said the storm had caused some delays.
The Red Sea Ports Authority closed the ports of Suez and Zeitiyat at 2 pm (1200 GMT) due to bad weather, wind and high waves.
A police speedboat is seen on the River Nile during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
In the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, Reda El Ghandour, a spokesman for the Alexandria Port Authority, said that the maritime traffic remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day in the ports of Alexandria and Dekheila.
The health ministry has advised people suffering from respiratory problems to avoid leaving their homes amidst the storm.
(This story has been refiled to fix headline typo)
A man covering his face walks on the pavement during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
(Reporting by Mahmoud Mourad and Ahmed Fahmy; Writing by Nadine Awadalla; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Women cover their faces near the River Nile during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El GhanyCommuters drive on the streets during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El GhanyA woman covers her face during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El GhanyA man covers his face during a sandstorm near the River Nile in Cairo, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El GhanyGeneral view of the City of the Dead, known as al-Arafa, during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshA woman covers her face as she holds flowers during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshPeople ride a bus on the 6th October Bridge during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshPeople cover their faces as they walk on Tahrir Square during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshA couple covers their faces with masks during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshA man covers his face during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshA woman covers her face as she walks on the 6th October Bridge during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshA woman covers her face as she walks on the 6th October Bridge during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshA view of Cairo as a sandstorm hits the city, Egypt January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
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