Deadly Sandstorm Turns Moroccan Tourist Cities Red, Disrupts Daily Life

Thursday was a special day for the residents of Marrakech and Agadir. After hot days, a sandstorm hit these two tourist cities, considerably reducing visibility. According to witnesses, a "red cover" enveloped the sky of the two cities, to the great amazement of the residents, reports the Arabic daily Al Ahdath Al Maghribia. In addition to the storm, the ochre city recorded a major thunderstorm that completely changed the appearance of its streets during this day. In Agadir, the overall climate was even more tense.

Moroccans rushed to social media to share images of this unprecedented phenomenon. Some Internet users reported the death of a person crushed by the fall of a tree near Jemaa El Fna square in Marrakech. Others shared images showing that panic seized some residents and vacationers. Motorists were forced to stop.

A few hours earlier, the National Meteorology Directorate had warned that extreme heat would be recorded in several regions, and that sandstorms would hit several areas due to the rise of hot air masses from the Saharan regions.