A huge dust storm this week inundated Sydney, Australia with a thick blanket of red dust, disrupting air and automobile travel, and shutting down construction projects across the city. Residents there are wary to venture outside to work as there is also widespread concern about respiratory illness from the eerie, sun-blotting red dust that still lingers in the air. Authorities estimate it will cost the country tens of millions of dollars in lost production.

Much of Australia has been suffering a severe drought, especially in the New South Wales region (NSW) where the capital city of Sydney is located. Another concern is the loss of topsoil. As it moved in from the south, the storm stripped millions of tons of topsoil from farmlands in the region. Watch this video to get a good idea of what’s up down under.