Thick Fog Causes Flight Disruptions in Baghdad

Baghdad: Baghdad International Airport was temporarily closed on Thursday due to thick fog, with flights suspended for around 12 hours. The transport ministry announced the closure at 12:30 am (2130 GMT) citing poor weather conditions and reduced visibility. Other airports affected by the weather included Najaf in central Iraq and Sulaimaniyah in the Kurdistan region.

The fog, which blanketed the capital Baghdad and several areas in Iraq, drastically reduced visibility, prompting the closure. Heavy rains over the past two days had caused flooding in several areas, particularly in the autonomous Kurdistan region, resulting in at least three deaths, including a child. A key bridge connecting Kirkuk to Baghdad also collapsed.

Despite the disruptions, authorities hope the heavy rains will help alleviate water shortages in drought-stricken Iraq, where water reserves in artificial lakes have hit their lowest levels in recent history. Iraq has been heavily impacted by climate change, experiencing years of drought and low rainfall.

By midday Thursday, the transport ministry announced that the airspace had been reopened at Baghdad and Najaf airports, following improved weather conditions.