More than 150 people required hospital treatment after a severe dust storm descended on Bahrain on Friday.

Doctors at the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) were besieged with cases throughout the day as asthma patients and the elderly struggled to cope with the dusty conditions.

The storm also made driving difficult as a thick blanket of dust settled over the country and winds of up to 48kmph whipped up loose sand.

Traffic police told the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication, that there were 20 accidents, none of them serious.

The storm reportedly caused some delays at Bahrain International Airport, although most flights were on schedule.

Many outdoor festivals and events were also adversely affected and the storm forced the cancellation of a fair highlighting the plight of residents in Demistan, who are fighting for the return of their beach.

SMC doctors attributed the rush of patients to the fact that all the health centres were closed for the weekend.

They advised people with asthma or dust allergies not to venture outside unless absolutely necessary until the weather conditions improved.

Meteorological Directorate of Civil Aviation Affairs officials warned the dust haze was set to continue on Saturday, with similar strong winds causing difficulties for pedestrians, motorists and fishermen.

Conditions are expected to return to normal tomorrow, but stormy weather could appear again on Monday, although it is expected to be less severe.-TradeArabia News Service