TEHRAN, July 20 (Xinhua) -- More than 700 people have been referred to medical centers in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan since Tuesday due to health problems caused by a new wave of sandstorms, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.
The wave of sandstorms, the fourth one that hit the province since June 22, caused 709 people to seek medical treatment for respiratory, heart or eye conditions, Tasnim reported, citing Majid Mohebi, head of the province's Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization.
He added that 44 individuals have been hospitalized, and the counties most affected by the sandstorms include Zabol, Zehak, Hamoun, Hirmand, and Nimrouz.
According to Mohsen Heidari, the director general of the province's meteorological organization, over the past two days, the province saw winds with maximum speeds between 85 and 104 km/h.
He added that strong winds are expected to continue in the next few days, potentially leading to additional sandstorms.
The province typically experiences strong summer winds from late May to late September. ■
