A powerful windstorm lifted tons of dust and sand in Sachayoj, northern Argentina, creating chaos and what witnesses described as "apocalyptic scenes" on December 18.
The dust storm covered large areas of Santiago del Estero province, prompting alerts among residents and authorities.
Climatic conditions leading to this event were marked by a sudden increase in wind speed, affecting not only Sachayoj but also nearby towns within the province.
Gusts uprooted trees and toppled electricity poles, leaving several areas without power.
Emergency lines were overwhelmed with reports of related incidents, ranging from property damage to power outages, as local authorities attempted to manage the situation.
Witnesses captured "apocalyptic scenes" on video. A clip recorded in Sachayoj showed a massive cloud of dust and sand rising to several meters.
Within minutes, the intense storm "turned day into darkness," drastically reducing sunlight and limiting visibility.
Strong gusts raised enormous amounts of dust and sand from the dry ground, endangering drivers and pedestrians.
This type of phenomenon was recorded in the same region of Argentina four years ago.