Sand storm in Wassit, south Iraq, causes 278 suffocations.

WASSIT / IraqiNews.com: Southern Iraq’s Wassit Province has witnessed a strong sand storm that caused loss of sight and 278 suffocation cases among its citizens, Wassit’s Health Director said on Wednesday.   “A sand storm hit Wassit Province since Tuesday night, causing loss of sight, closing all shops, along with several suffocation cases,” Falah Qassim told IraqiNews.com news agency.   He said the Province’s hospitals had received 278 cases of suffocation, caused by the sand storm, out of which 100 cases were registered in Kut, the center of Wassit Province .   Sand storms have covered several Iraqi provinces since Tuesday night, due to a law climate condition that came from Turkey and the Arab Peninsula .   Kut, the center of Wassit Province , is 180 km to the southeast of Baghdad .   SKH (ST)     .