Air pollution in Tehran reaches critical levels

Health officials in Tehran have said the air pollution in the city has reached critical levels. Hospitals throughout the city have reported increased heart attacks, breathing problems, fatigue, and headaches. Offices and schools have been closed in the hope that traffic would reduce.

Sheydar Malik Afzeli, head of the anti pollution unit in Tehran, said the number of deaths and casualties are more than the number of people killed in a plane crash on Tuesday in the capital which killed more than 100 people, however there has been no official reports of deaths from hospitals. The city has more than three million cars most of which are without modern exhaust filters.

Authorities have said the levels of casualties could reach thousands if the smog doesn't clear.