The northern regions of Sistan and Baluchestan Province in Iran have experienced a severe sandstorm resulting in hundreds of citizens being hospitalized.

Over the weekend, at least 511 individuals sought medical attention for respiratory, cardiac, and eye-related complications, according to Majid Mahboubi, the Director-General of the Crisis Management Office of Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

The sandstorm and the dispersion of dust particles have affected five major cities in the province, namely Zahedan, Zabol, Iranshahr, Chabahar, and Nikshahr. Of the 511 victims hospitalized, 484 have been discharged after receiving medical treatment. However, at least 27 people remain hospitalized.

While the government has not released transparent statistics, in the 35 days between August 21 to September 24 alone, fragmented data from the Crisis Management Office suggests that over 3,800 people were hospitalized due to sandstorms.

For over two decades, the 120-day winds of Sistan and Baluchestan have exacerbated the dust phenomena, especially after the drying of the Hamoun wetlands and the formation of new dust centers.

Several factors have contributed to the crisis, including the failure of the government to receive a water share of the Hirmand border river from Afghanistan and the intensification of sandstorms and influx of dust particles. The factors have also led to a water shortage crisis in the region.