Dammam, Jun 4 (Arab News) : A heavy sandstorm blinded much of the Eastern Province yesterday. There were, however, no reports of major road accidents or any delay in train or flight arrivals and departures.

The storm started blanketing the region since Saturday night, as sand-laden winds exceeding 25 mph made life difficult for motorists, who drove with hazard lights on as they negotiated their way through the thick balls of yellow and orange dust.

People awoke to a dark and hazy morning yesterday with their vehicles coated in layers of coarse dust. Visibility was reduced to zero during noontime in Dammam, Dhahran and Alkhobar. All vehicles had headlights on, and it looked more like evening than afternoon.

Evening found roadways around Dammam nearly deserted. Many businesses, especially supermarkets, suffered from the storm.

There was a steady stream of people at local hospitals, with the sandy weather bringing nothing but misery to children with asthma.

“My seven-year-old son is suffering badly because of this weather,” said Umm Javed, a mother of three. “Since we live on the third floor, this gushing sand-laden wind is particularly fierce and it is making breathing difficult for my little one,” she told.