Video: Giant sandstorm in Western Australia captured on camera In the video, the Brett family can be seen on a beach watching the nearby sandstorm, also known as a haboob. The sandstorm passed over Onslow in north-western Australia, about 700 miles from Perth. The Australian Bureau of Metereology was reported saying that the sandstorm was caused by wind and rain picking up dust from the land. Video courtesy of Kev and Hayley Brett