According to NASA reports, the toxic smoke has caused severe respiratory problems in many people in the surrounding area, forcing them to immediately search for medical help.
Sulfur Dioxide Spreads Over Iraq https://t.co/6IHS0WfI9R #NASA pic.twitter.com/hNdcJ8gojW
— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) 25. Oktober 2016
Sulfur dioxide is produced by the reaction of elemental sulfur with oxygen. When its amount exceeds certain limits, it causes headache, nausea and, at higher concentrations, severe damage to blood vessels of the lungs and anemia.
The impact of the fire at the Sulfur plant (detonated by #ISIS), south of Mosul. Scary… pic.twitter.com/SUgZSG0bdp
— Michael Horowitz (@michaelh992) 26. Oktober 2016
Media reports say that the wind is rapidly carrying the toxic smoke to other parts of the country as well as toward Turkey.
Experts believe that the amount of the gas resulting from the fire is comparable with a large volcanic eruption and is very alarming. It could also lead to the pollution of the groundwater thus causing damage to humans and local agriculture for many years to come, the German magazine wrote.
More than 800 Iraqis have already had to flee from the toxic smoke clouds to remote areas. However, the toxic clouds didn't just affect residents of nearby villages, but also reached US forces at the Qayyarah military base to the south of Mosul and forced troops to wear gas masks for precaution.
SO2 from the #Iraq sulfur fire, Oct 25. If fire = #volcano, it would be among the largest eruptions of 2016 (a quiet year so far) @NASANPP pic.twitter.com/TGJak3Pxcr
— Simon Carn (@simoncarn) 25. Oktober 2016
Daesh fighters are said to have set the sulfur plant on fire to slow the advance of the anti-Daesh coalition. According to reports of the military, the smoke had a negative impact on scheduled military operations in the area, where Iraqi forces are involved in a crucial offensive to liberate Mosul from Daesh fighters.
