Schools and Businesses Closed as Dust Blankets Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia

Gulf News..

• Image Credit: EPA
• A photo made available on 18 March 2012, shows camels barely visible during a sand storm in Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Kuwait's university, colleges and institutes were also closed for the day as a consequence of the bad weather, the education ministry said.

In Saudi Arabia, the authorities said that schools in Riyadh and several provinces would be closed on Sunday following warning from the General Directorate of Civil Defence of heavy dust storm.

In Dammam, Saudi Arabia, the coastguards have warned fishermen against venturing in the sea, urging them to wait until the conditions improved.

In Bahrain, traffic authorities said that 54 accidents occurred between 6 am and noon after visibility was drastically reduced. Health officials said that 250 people had to be treated at the country's main hospital.