| Sand storm shuts ports |
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 11: Southerly winds blowing in at 56 km/h kicked up a dust storm in Kuwait Wednesday that reduced visibility in the city to less than 0.5 km, Musaed Al Hamad of Al Mirzem Observatory told Arab Times. “We predicted the storm three days ago, and this phenomenon happens ahead of a change in temperature,” Musaed added. The astronomer said the storm would subside by 5 pm on Wednesday but its effect would linger on for at least 2 more days. The visibility varied at different locations in Kuwait. In Salmiya the visibility fell to zero, while there was an average visibility of about 1 km in other parts of the country. In Northern Kuwait, in places like Subbiya and Jahra, the visibility was 0.5 km. The storm moved in the North West direction after coming in from the South, he added.
Meanwhile, state news agency said work at all Kuwaiti ports had been halted since Wednesday morning due to the bad weather. Visibility was only 300 m, while wind speed reached 60 km/hr, the report added. Some weather experts said wind speed touched 85 km/hr. Most of the capital was shrouded in a dusty cloud at noon but passenger ships continued to arrive. In remarks to KUNA, meteorologist Essa Ramadan also said that the dust storm was expected to gradually subside as of Wednesday evening and that noticeable improvement in the weather will be seen on Thursday, on which temperature will decrease. He said that a cold air wave hit the state at 3 am Wednesday, causing strong northwestern winds with an average speed of 60 km/h and reducing visibility range to less than 100 meters at Kuwait International Airport early Wednesday.
He said northern Kuwait witnessed light rain that was followed by heavy dust that came from Jordan and west Iraq, reached Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar, and might head to the United Arab Emirates and Oman Wednesday evening. Kuwaiti oil exports are expected to resume early on Thursday after being halted since late Tuesday by bad weather, state refiner Kuwait National Petroleum Co (KNPC) said on Wednesday. In neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, loading at Saudi Arabia’s largest oil export terminal at Ras Tanura has not been affected by bad weather that has halted exports from Kuwait, a shipper said. In Iraq, oil exports from the port of Basra, north of Kuwait, were unaffected by bad weather and continued on Wednesday at 60,000 barrels per hour, a Basra shipper said.
All Kuwaiti exports including crude, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other oil products were suspended until the weather improved, a spokesman for KNPC said. “Oil exports are expected to resume on Thursday morning if weather conditions are better,” Ahmad al-Muzaiel told Reuters. State news agency KUNA said earlier work at all Kuwaiti ports had been halted since early Wednesday due to bad weather. Visibility was only 300 metres (984 ft), while wind speed reached 60 kms (37.3 miles) per hour, KUNA quoted a port official as saying. Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) said here Wednesday that all its scheduled flights were operating normally in and out Kuwait international airport despite the sandstorm. Head of KAC’s Public Relations Adel Bouresli told KUNA that visibility at Kuwait international airport went down lessen than 100 meters at 3:00 am local-time but fortunately no KAC flight was scheduled at that time. All flights for KAC were not affected by the bad weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Director of Security media department and official spokesperson of Ministry of Interior (MOI) Colonel Mohammad Al-Sabr said on Wednesday that traffic accidents have jumped as a result of the intensity of dust and sand storms currently being observed in the country. Colonel Al-Sabr told KUNA, “The volume of accidents today hit record high during such weather conditions, saying that 48 accidents were reported, four of them sustained severe injuries. “The increase of accidents are a result of traffic violations”, Colonel Al-Sabr highlighted. He also instructed drivers to keep a fair distance between their vehicles and the vehicles in front of them, drive with extra alertness, care, and not to exceed speed limits. He warned of using warning lights as they distract other drivers, advising at the same time those suffering from asthma and allergies not to drive at such conditions. Colonel Al-Sabr affirmed that traffic patrol are on high alert and ready for any emergencies. - Arab Times
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| Posted on:
12/02/2009 |
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