<p>A severe sandstorm hit several areas in Egypt on Wednesday, March 28, engulfing the landscape in towering dust clouds, as seen in this video from Qena Governorate<br /></a>.</p><p>A state of emergency was temporarily issued on Wednesday in nearby Sohag by Governer Ayman Abdel-Moneim, but was lifted by the evening, the Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm</a> reported. Abdel-Moneim instructed all schools in Sohag to remain closed on Thursday, however.</p><p>The sandstorm moved to the Sinai region on Thursday, interfering with ballot counting in Egypt’s presidential election, according to Egypt Today</a>. Voting took place between March 26 and March 28. Credit: Haitham Hamad via Storyful</p><br />