Service of New South Wales said the dust storm had kept it busy with emergency calls . `` We have already seen an increase in calls to people suffering from asthma and other respiratory problems , '' the agency said in a statement . Watch a news report on the haze '' iReporter Mark Clarke told CNN he woke up earlier than usual with a stuffy nose and cough at his home in Stanmore , a suburb of Sydney . iReporter : `` It was like Mars '' He pulled the curtains back and saw a `` strange red orangish glow coming from outside . '' `` It feels and smells like a vacuum cleaner exploded , '' he said . Watch Clarke 's iReport The country 's bureau of meterology attributed the red haze to strong north-westerly winds which blew the dust overnight to Sydney and regions west of the capital . During the day , the dust blanket moved north onto the Queensland capital of Brisbane . The bureau of meterology 's senior forecaster Tony Auden told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the haze was likely to continue moving north . `` It should make its way up
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A massive dust storm swept through parts of Australia on Wednesday , bathing the city of Sydney in a reddish haze . The Sydney Harbour Bridge is seen on Wednesday in Sydney , Australia . Susan Paget marveled at the eerie red view from the balcony of her apartment in Manly , a suburb of Sydney , and said she took the day off work to avoid the dust storm mess . `` It just feels dirty and rusty , '' Paget told CNN . `` It was totally bizarre to wake up around 5:30 a.m. and see such a red bizarre sky . '' A video Paget submitted to CNN 's iReport showed thick haze , which made it difficult to see her neighbors ' homes . Watch Paget 's updated iReport Health officials in Sydney warned residents to stay in indoors if possible , especially if they had asthma or heart and lung conditions . `` Avoid spending too much time outdoors due to the high particle levels and hazardous air quality , '' the New South Wales Department of Heath Web site said . See images of the dust storm '' The Ambulance