TEHRAN: A massive sandstorm and record winds killed at least four people in Tehran on Monday, plunging the Iranian capital into darkness, knocking out power supplies, damaging buildings and causing massive disruption.

The freak weather struck at 5:10pm, sending residents dashing for cover as debris swept across streets and snapped trees. State media reported 110 kilometre per hour winds.

Forecasters on state television initially warned Tehranis to stay indoors, shortly before the ISNA news agency said the fatalities were caused by falling trees.

Amin Sabernia, Iran’s chief emergency official, announced the deaths and said at least 27 people were injured, 10 of them in a road accident when the gloom suddenly descended. State television later reported that two people injured in the storm were in critical condition.

Almost 7,000 emergency workers were deployed within the hour, city officials said, and Ahad Vazifeh, in charge of government weather forecasts, cautioned of bad weather until on Wednesday.

“This is like an apocalyptic Hollywood movie. I’m scared,” a woman running into a shop in the capital’s central business district to escape the gales said seconds after the storm hit.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2014