Huge dust storm covers Sydney
A huge dust storm has covered Sydney
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By Richard James. |  |
Wednesday, 23, Sep 2009 09:30
By Richard James.
A vast dust storm has enveloped Sydney causing travel chaos and prompting health warnings.
Cities along the eastern coast of Australia were covered by the red haze on Wednesday morning after strong winds picked up tons of top soil across New South Wales.
Visibility in Sydney became so bad flights were cancelled and traffic severely disrupted.
Many of the city's iconic landmarks - such as the Opera House - have been totally obscured by the dust.
Click here to see the Sydney Opera House covered in dust
Officials have issued health warnings for those with breathing problem, with children and the elderly also urged to stay indoors.
New South Wales emergency services minister Steve Whan said: "People who have any breathing issues, stay inside and keep the windows closed"
The dust is believed to have originated from the drought-stricken areas of the region.
The winds are expected to calm later on the east coast later on Wednesday, but the country as a whole has experienced an extraordinary day of weather.
Heavy rain caused flooding in Adelaide while massive hail storms also fell in the town of Crookwell in New South Wales.
There were even two earthquakes near Melbourne, measuring 3.0 on the Richter Scale.