A huge sandstorm swept over Niger capital Niamey and was captured in these videos posted on social media. The large plumes of dust appear to be hundreds of meters high as they engulf the city.

It lasted a few minutes, bringing red darkness in mid-afternoon, and caused air traffic to stop temporarily. Sandstorms are common across West Africa during the dry season which usually lasts from January to April. They sweep Saharan sand through Niger and neighboring countries, out towards the Atlantic Ocean.

Several residents of the city captured the event on film as it unfolded and subsequently posted the footage to social media, providing some truly breathtaking perspectives on the storm. At one point, when it had fully engulfed the area, the sky turned an unnerving red color for a few minutes before rain eventually arrived and dissipated the cloud.