Dust storm hampers life, paints the sky red in southeastern Turkey’s Mardin, Diyarbakır

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 of Diyarbakır, Şırnak, Mardin, Şanlıurfa 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 was the most affected from the storm, the disabled, unwell, and pregnant women in public offices were given a day's leave from work.

Amid a lack of customers, shopkeepers had to close their businesses due to thick dust covering their merchandises

The sky turned red near the Syrian border and parents refrained from sending their children to school.

An Izmir-Mardin flight landed in Diyarbakır Airport due to the dust cloud and flights between Ankara and Mardin were canceled.