Dust storm sweeps through Kurdistan

A dust storm, kholbarin in Kurdish, swept across the Kurdistan Region on Friday.

The storm originated in the deserts of western Syria and eastern Iraq, according to the Earthquake and Metrology Department.

It reduced visibility across the Kurdistan Region, down to two kilometres in Erbil, five in Duhok, four in Kirkuk, and less than half a kilometre in Tuz Khurmatu.

It is expected the dust storm will end Friday night, but rain will continue, according to the Earthquake and Metrology Department.

The photographs show the storm in Erbil.