Do you think 2020 could get any more dramatic? Well, seems like the despised leap year is raising the bar one day at a time.
In the midst of a pandemic, a West African country, was greeted with a sandstorm so massive that many on social media termed it ‘apocalyptic’.
Sandstorm In Niger Turns Skies Blood Red
On Monday, a massive sandstorm swept across the city of Niamey, the capital of Niger, painting the sky a bright shade of blood red. Yes, we are not kidding. Dramatic photos and videos of the sandstorm are being shared across various social media platforms and they are no less than terrifying.
Incredible photos from Niamey in #Niger today, where my brother and his family live. Sandstorms turning the sky orange/red pic.twitter.com/Rpqu0XGVP2
— David Blane (@dnblane) May 4, 2020
One of the videos shows a huge wall of sand engulfing buildings and surroundings of Niamey. While another video shows large plumes of red dust appearing to be hundreds of metres high, turning the city into a bloody nightmare.
And according to various reports, the sandstorm lasted a few minutes and caused air traffic to stop temporarily.
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Tempête de sable à Niamey… pic.twitter.com/ct5Pm3OjVY
— Doulaye Bonkano (@doulayeb) May 4, 2020
Sandstorms Are Usual Across West African Regions
But apparently, such sandstorms and dust-laden winds are a common occurrence across West Africa. These typically take place during the dry season, which is known as ‘Harmattan’ and lasts from November to April.
A dust storm, also called sandstorm, is a meteorological phenomenon that causes thunderstorms to lift a large amount of dust into the air, further allowing it to travel hundreds of kilometers.
The videos on social media, which are initially shared by those who witnesses the situation, were titled rather wittily! One Twitter user wrote, “My apocalypse bingo card is full now” while another person said, “This is God’s punishment.”
In September 2019 too, a similar dust storm in southern Africa turned the skies red. Are you sure we are not heading towards an apocalypse?
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