A sandstorm swept through northern Sistan and Baluchestan province on Tuesday, with wind speeds reaching 75 kilometers per hour in Zabol. According to Fars news agency, meteorologist Ghodrati Far stated that the current wind speed of the dust storm in Zabol has reduced horizontal visibility to 500 meters. The director general of crisis management in Sistan and Baluchestan announced that due to the intensification of the dust storm, only half of the employees in the province's offices were present at work on Tuesday, July 16. State news agency IRNA reported that offices in Zabol and Zahak counties were completely closed on Monday and Tuesday. Mr. Arabi noted that the concentration of suspended particles in the air in Sistan and Baluchestan is currently ten times the 'permissible limit' and three times the 'crisis limit.' He mentioned that the current speed of the dust storm in the province is 90 kilometers per hour, with horizontal visibility in Zabol and Zahak reduced to 400 meters. Meanwhile, according to Mehr news agency, Ayoub Sharafati, the police chief of northern Sistan and Baluchestan, reported that horizontal visibility in the Sistan region has dropped to 100 meters, causing slow traffic on main and secondary roads. Reports indicate that sandstorms in the Sistan region have intensified over the past 18 years, with the duration of the sandstorm season, known as the 120-day winds, now exceeding 150 days. The sand and dust storm in Sistan and Baluchestan had also intensified in the second half of Khordad month. Additionally, Baqer Kord, the deputy for urban development in Sistan and Baluchestan, reported on Tuesday, June 25, that 1,160 people were transferred to medical centers in Zabol, Zahak, Hirmand, Nimruz, and Hamun due to the sandstorm. Zabol University of Medical Sciences announced on Tuesday that hospitals and medical centers under its coverage are on standby. Nasrollah Chari, the deputy of operations at the Sistan and Baluchestan Water and Wastewater Company, reported on Thursday, July 11, that the severe sandstorm and high temperatures have caused 'significant' damage to the water supply pipeline network in Sistan villages. He mentioned the burial of valve chambers, power outages, and damage to and ignition of electrical panels as part of this damage. The state newspaper Iran previously reported that 'the drying of the Hamun wetland and the moving sands in the region' are among the reasons for the presence of dust particles in Sistan and Baluchestan.
Sandstorm Sweeps Through Sistan and Baluchestan
A severe sandstorm has hit northern Sistan and Baluchestan province, causing significant disruptions including reduced visibility and the closure of government offices. The storm has led to health emergencies, with over a thousand people requiring medical attention due to dust-related issues. This event highlights ongoing environmental challenges in the region, exacerbated by climate change.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A severe sandstorm hit northern Sistan and Baluchestan province, causing significant disruptions including reduced visibility and the closure of government offices. Over a thousand people required medical attention due to dust-related health issues.
- Wind speeds reached up to 90 kilometers per hour.
- The concentration of dust particles in the air was ten times above permissible limits.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Sistan and Baluchestan has been facing increasing environmental challenges, including prolonged sandstorm seasons and the drying of wetlands, which contribute to health and infrastructural issues.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 90%