Electricity and telephone lines were cut in some places in Polatlı, where the sky became dark due to the sandstorm.

Talking to a private TV channel, Mürsel Yıldızkaya, the mayor of Polatlı, said: “The sandstorm lasted about 20 minutes, and now it's all right. There is no shortage of electricity, natural gas and the internet. A crisis desk was formed. We have taken necessary precautions.”

Sandstorm is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions. Sandstorm arise when a gust front or other strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface. Fine particles are transported by saltation and suspension, a process that moves soil from one place and deposits it in another. (ILKHA)