The inhabitants of Tozeur were surprised yesterday at the end of the afternoon, by the sudden arrival of an impressive “sand wall”, a storm as spectacular as it is formidable. The phenomenon, visible for miles around, plunged the region into an almost total darkness in a few minutes.
It was around 5.30 p.m. that the sky began to turn yellow and then ocher, announcing the arrival of a cloud of compact sand, carried by hot wind gusts exceeding 70 km/h. The sand wall covered tozeur and its surroundings, reducing visibility to only a few meters.
A frequent but impressive weather phenomenon
This type of storm, also called “haboob” in certain desert regions, is typical of arid areas like the South Tunisian. It generally occurs following a sudden descent of cold air from the upper layers of the atmosphere, which violently raises the sand and dust on the ground, forming a dense and mobile forehead.
This “sand wall”, which can reach several tens of meters high, advances at high speed and can transform the day into a night into the space of a few moments.
Beyond the spectacular aspect, these storms can have significant health consequences, especially for people with respiratory problems.
