BAKU — A dense dust plume settled over Baku and the Absheron Peninsula on Sunday evening, pushing particulate levels to 1.8–2 times above the norm, according to automatic monitoring stations, officials said.
Rena Allahverdiyeva, a chief engineer with the Environmental Pollution Monitoring Group, said the episode is transboundary in nature, carried into Azerbaijan by southeasterly winds. The dusty conditions are expected to persist up to two days, depending on meteorological factors, she added.
What residents should know
Limit prolonged outdoor activity, especially for children, older adults and people with heart or lung disease.
Stay Ahead with Azerbaijan.usGet exclusive translations, top stories, and analysis — straight to your inbox.Keep windows closed; use air conditioning on recirculation mode if available.
Consider a well-fitting mask (e.g., N95-type) outdoors during peak dust periods.
Drivers should use headlights and maintain distance as visibility can fluctuate.
Areas affected: Baku and the wider Absheron Peninsula.
Outlook: Improvement is likely as winds shift and the dust plume disperses over the next 48 hours.
