A severe sandstorm in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan sent 171 to hospital mainly due to respiratory problems, a provincial official said.
A total of 810 people referred to the hospitals and healthcare centers from August 20 due to breathing, eye and heart diseases, out of which 639 were outpatients, said head of the local crisis management body, Abdul Rahman Shahnavazi, IRNA reported.
Shahnavazi said tap water in the vicinity of the storm has been polluted, with Red Crescent Society distributing 7,852 bottles of water and 906 food packages to the people in the area.
He called on motorists in the province to exercise extra caution as the storm has drastically reduced visibility.
Referring to the weakening of the storm in recent days, he said according to weather forecasts, the storm will worsen on Wednesday and may even lead to roads being blocked.
High winds and increase in air and particle pollution density forced local government offices to shutdown on Saturday.
Flights from and to the cities of Zabol and Iranshahr were canceled due to the heavy storm and dust.
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