Israel Records World's Worst Air Quality as Dust Storm Sweeps In From Africa
Jerusalem and Tel Aviv ranked as the world's most polluted cities on Saturday, a rare environmental episode driven by southwesterly winds carrying dust from North Africa across the region.
Air quality monitors recorded dangerously high levels of particulate matter throughout Israel, prompting joint health warnings from the country's environmental protection and health ministries.
The pollution reached exceptional levels in Tel Aviv, where readings exceeded 2,000 units on the air quality index, several times higher than Lahore, Pakistan, which ranked third globally at 243 units.
Health officials urged people with heart disease, respiratory conditions, the elderly, children and pregnant women to avoid strenuous outdoor activity. The general population was advised to limit physical exertion outside until conditions improve.
The severe pollution was expected to persist through Saturday evening before beginning to ease overnight, according to meteorologists. Air quality should gradually improve through Sunday, though medium pollution levels may linger into the afternoon as ozone concentrations mix with residual dust.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection said it would continue monitoring conditions and updating the public as the situation develops.
The dust event, while unusual in its severity, follows a pattern of North African weather systems occasionally affecting air quality across the eastern Mediterranean.