A strong sandstorm swept the Taif-Baha Highway on Friday, sharply lowering visibility and causing at least 30 accidents that left 35 people injured. The winds that lashed the northwest region at speeds exceeding 50 kmph also disrupted maritime traffic between the ports of Dhiba in the Kingdom and Hurghada in Egypt. Some 1,500 male and female teachers in Saudi universities and schools were stranded in Hurghada as the bad weather prevented ferries from setting sail. Both Dhiba and Hurghada ports were closed, said Capt. Ayman Al-Jihani, director of Dhiba Port. Only one of three scheduled ferries from Egypt arrived Friday, he said. Authorities closed the Taif-Baha Highway in the wake of the storm, leaving hundreds of back-to-school weekend travelers stranded. Also hit were vacationers returning by from neighboring countries and weekend trips to the Red Sea beaches 100 km west of Tabuk city. Red Crescent teams were deployed across the major highways, said Khaled Al-Saleh, head of technical affairs at the Red Crescent. More unstable weather is expected today in the northern part of the Kingdom, according to the Met Department. A cold wave accompanied by strong winds and sandstorms of up to 60 kmph is expected to last until Sunday.
