Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Ecology has warned that windy and dusty weather will persist across the country throughout the week, bringing a sharp increase in air pollution.
The impact will be most severe in Tashkent, Karakalpakstan, and the Khorezm, Navoi, Bukhara, Samarkand, and Jizzakh regions. Residents have been advised to limit time outdoors and wear protective masks when possible.
On September 21, monitoring stations recorded higher concentrations of PM2.5 particles in Urgench, Karshi and Samarkand. The following day, the rise was observed in Bukhara, Gulistan, Jizzakh and Tashkent. In the capital, strong winds escalated into dust storms, worsening conditions further.
By 21:55 (GMT+5) in Tashkent, PM2.5 levels had exceeded permissible limits by 19.8 times, registering over 650 on the US AQI scale. According to IQAir, residents are strongly encouraged to wear masks outdoors and use air purifiers indoors to reduce health risks.
