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Sandstorm in Egypt causes Cairo airport to close for arrivals; other airport shut down

Associated Press
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A man walks on the Nile corniche during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015. Egyptian officials say Cairo International Airport has been closed to arrivals amid a developing sandstorm. The sandstorm hit Egypt Tuesday after unusually warm and sunny weather for February. The sky over downtown Cairo turned yellow and blotted out the sun, limiting visibility. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy) (The Associated Press)

A general view of the Cairo Tower during a sandstorm in Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015. Egyptian officials say Cairo International Airport has been closed to arrivals amid a developing sandstorm. The sandstorm hit Egypt Tuesday after unusually warm and sunny weather for February. The sky over downtown Cairo turned yellow and blotted out the sun, limiting visibility. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy) (The Associated Press)

People walk on a bridge during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015. Egyptian officials say Cairo International Airport has been closed to arrivals amid a developing sandstorm. The sandstorm hit Egypt Tuesday after unusually warm and sunny weather for February. The sky over downtown Cairo turned yellow and blotted out the sun, limiting visibility. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy) (The Associated Press)

Egyptian officials say Cairo International Airport has been closed to arrivals amid a developing sandstorm.

Ihab Mohieddin, the head of the Egyptian aviation authority, said Tuesday departures from Cairo's airport have been undisturbed. He said the country's second-busiest airport outside of the city of Alexandria has been closed to arrivals and departures, and flights were diverted to other airports unaffected by the storm. The state news agency said Alexandria and nearby Dekheila ports also were closed because of wind gusts.

The sandstorm hit Egypt Tuesday after unusually warm and sunny weather for February. The sky over downtown Cairo turned yellow and blotted out the sun, limiting visibility.