In Iran, fierce sandstorms are believed to have buried more than 100 villages in 2002.

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The auction was originally planned for Monday, but had to be delayed because of sandstorms in Baghdad.

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Along the way Andrews braved severe sandstorms, blistering temperatures of up to 120 degrees, pit vipers and marauding bandits.

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Over the past two days, sandstorms have hampered operations across the country.

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Temperatures average about 95 degrees during the summer, but have been known to reach 120 degrees -- something that, along with sandstorms, could prove uncomfortable for fans.

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With sandstorms that wipe out all our modern avenues of communication, that make transporting any number of people into or out of the city a suicide mission?

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In due course this error brings our hero to a point where, if he manages to survive the sulphurous oxide and violent sandstorms of Vesuvius, he will almost certainly be murdered.

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The sandstorms, of course, cause more problems.

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Sandstorms become real problems.

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Overall, 980 out of the initial 1, 024 participants started the fifth leg of this year's MDS, a grueling adventure challenging participants to test their bodies and minds as they take on whipping sandstorms and blazing temperatures of up to 50C in their epic journey across the Southern Moroccan desert.

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