ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - At least eight people have been admitted to hospitals in Erbil, as a major dust storm has swept across the Kurdistan Region since Wednesday night. 

“Due to the dust storm that has hit Erbil since yesterday, eight people have been admitted to the Erbil East Emergency Hospital due to breathing difficulties,” Saad Kamal, in charge of the Erbil Rizgari Hospital, confirmed to The New Region, adding, “the majority of them already suffer from asthma.”

Kamal added that due to the intensity of the dust storm, they have dedicated a special medical team at the hospital to treat those being admitted to the hospital for breathing difficulties. 

“Most people have stayed at their homes; that is why it [the storm] has not had much impact,” he said. 

Mateen Jameel, head of the Duhok health department, said "No patients have been admitted to hospitals in the city due to the dust storm."

Saman Sheikh Latif, head of Sulaimani’s health department, for his part, said the province's storm has been "less intense" compared to other parts of the Kurdistan Region.

“Therefore, no one has visited the Sulaimani hospitals to seek medical treatments,” he said. 

The Iraqi Meteorological Agency predicts the dust storm will continue through Friday.