Halimeh Ali, the representative of Zabol in the Parliament, said on Sunday, August 18, that "due to the presence of lakebed sands in the Hamoun Lake, the air in the Sistan region is filled with dust, and the market and all offices in the Sistan region have been closed." According to the news agency "House of the Nation," she, speaking in a public session of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, addressed the head of the Department of Environment, urging that "just as much attention is given to the Urmia Lake issue, officials should also pay attention to the condition of the Hamoun Lake in Sistan and Baluchestan." Halimeh Ali emphasized that "the people of Sistan breathe air every day that contains sands and dust from the Hamoun Lakebed." The Zabol representative stated that "the lungs of the people of Sistan have dried up," addressing Masoumeh Ebtekar, the head of the Department of Environment, and added: "Ms. Ebtekar, you stated that the Hamoun Lake is full of water; I do not know how this news is communicated to you, today the market and all areas of Sistan are closed due to a dust storm." Ali continued: "The concentration of dust in the air of Sistan and Baluchestan province has exceeded permissible limits, which is primarily due to the lakebed sands of Hamoun, so someone must be held accountable for addressing the situation that has arisen." A member of the Health and Treatment Commission of the Parliament called for the establishment of a crisis headquarters in Sistan and Baluchestan to address this issue. The IRIB news agency also reported on Saturday, August 17, that due to the concentration of dust in northern Sistan and Baluchestan, which has reached more than 11 times the permissible limit, all offices in the counties of Hamoun, Nimruz, Zahak, Zabol, and Hirmand have been declared closed. According to this report, the speed of the storm in Zabol reached 81 kilometers per hour with a visibility radius of 100 meters, and in Zahak, it reached 68 kilometers per hour with a visibility radius of 500 meters. Previously, on July 6, it was reported that due to the intensification of the dust storm, only half of the employees of the offices in Sistan and Baluchestan were present at work. On June 25, the Deputy of Urban Development of Sistan and Baluchestan announced the "transfer" of 1,160 people to medical centers in the counties of Zabol, Zahak, Hirmand, Nimruz, and Hamoun due to the dust storm.
Dust Storm in Hamoun Shuts Down Markets and All Offices in Sistan
A severe dust storm in the Sistan region has led to the closure of markets and government offices, as officials express concern over air quality and health impacts. Halimeh Ali, a local parliament member, criticized environmental management and called for urgent action to address the crisis. This situation highlights ongoing environmental challenges in Iran, particularly in vulnerable regions.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A severe dust storm in the Sistan region has caused the closure of markets and government offices due to hazardous air quality. Local officials are demanding accountability and action to address the environmental crisis stemming from the Hamoun Lakebed.
- Dust concentration levels have exceeded permissible limits by over 11 times.
- Wind speeds during the storm reached up to 81 kilometers per hour, severely affecting visibility.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has been facing increasing environmental challenges, including water scarcity and air pollution, particularly in arid regions like Sistan and Baluchestan. The Hamoun Lake, once a vital water source, has largely dried up, contributing to dust storms.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%