Iran dust storms send more than 1,000 to hospitals

Dust storms in the southeastern Iranian provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan have forced more than 1,000 people of the Sistan region to refer to hospitals and health centers.

Report informs via Iranian media that, according to Majid Mohebbi, head of the Crisis Management Headquarters of the province, since last Thursday severe dust storms have hit 5 cities of Sistan sending 1,059 people to hospitals out of whom 145 are still hospitalized.

He added relief and service forces are on high alert.

Officials say strong winds with a maximum speed of 101 km/h ripped through the city of Zabul on Tuesday and the resulting dust has reduced the horizontal visibility to 600 meters.

Being located in a hot and dry region, the province receives low rainfall compared to other regions. In some cases, the amount of annual rainfall in a provincial region falls in less than 24 hours in the province, causing torrential floods.