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‘Apocalyptic’ Sandstorm Engulfs Egypt’s Aswan

May 8, 2014
A sand storm moments before it engulfed the city of Aswan. Credit: Yousry Aref

Egypt’s Aswan was overcome with a sandstorm in a scale never before seen, leaving at least four dead according to local reports. Local citizens and bloggers reported that many in Aswan, a popular tourist destination, were overcome with panic and terror as a huge cloud made its way over the sunny, historic city. Yousry Aref, a local, uploaded unbelievable photographs and video of the event, which according to meteorologists had not occurred in several decades. Post by Yousry Aref. Aref posted on his Facebook account that this was the biggest dust storm he had ever witnessed in Aswan. “Everything is [down] at this moment…no light, no internet,” posted Aref before adding that the dust was very thick, “I almost suffocated from the sand ! Every thing turned into an orange light only and you can’t see any thing [outside] the windows.” According to state media, one South African tourist is missing in Aswan following the sandstorm. Al-Ahram reported that the storm sank a boat carrying tourists on the Nile, leaving one South African passenger missing. Six other toruists, including another South African, there Australians, three Egyptians and one Pole were rescued….


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