A massive storm recently hit Tehran, the capital of Iran, and covered the city with clouds of sand, killing four and causing widespread damage.
A huge sandstorm and record winds killed at least four people in Tehran on June 2, plunging Iran’s capital into darkness during rush hour and forcing thousands to run for cover.
The freak weather struck at 5:10 pm, knocking down trees and sweeping debris across streets and into the windscreens of cars as people headed home from work.
WILD WEATHER
State media reported 110 kilometre per hour winds at the peak of the storm. Power supplies were knocked out in at least 50,000 homes, officials said. The winds also smashed windows and caused telecommunication towers to topple and masonry to fall off buildings.
Forecasters on state television initially warned people in Tehran to stay indoors, shortly before the ISNA news agency reported that the fatalities had been caused by falling trees.
FATAL GALES
Amin Saberinia, Iran’s chief emergency official, announced the deaths and said that at least 27 people were injured, 10 of them in a road accident when the gloom suddenly descended. State television later reported that two of those injured in the storm were in critical condition.
“This is like an apocalyptic Hollywood movie,” a woman said as she ran into a shop in the capital’s central business district to escape the gales shortly after the storm hit.
City officials said that almost 7,000 emergency workers were deployed within an hour of the storm hitting.