Tehran’s toxic cloud: satellite images show oily fires burned for days

Residents reported headaches, eye and skin irritation and breathing difficulties as Israeli bombings blanketed Tehran with pollutants Middle East crisis live – latest updates Satellite images of Tehran show toxic fires caused by Israeli bombings on oil depots were still burning days after the strikes, which have caused fears of serious health complications for millions of residents in the Iranian capital. Clouds of smoke from bombings on 7 March on multiple facilities blanketed the city with pollutants ranging from soot to oil particles to sulphur dioxide. Hours later, a passing storm showered Tehran with poisonous, oil-filled rain. The Guardian spoke to residents who described having headaches, eye and skin irritation and difficulty breathing. Experts have warned those symptoms could be just the beginning, with longterm risks of cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, DNA damage and cancer. Four fuel facilities in and around the capital were hit, with Shahran depot in the north-west spewing a thick column of smoke into the atmosphere. The Aqdasieh oil depot in the north-east, Tehran refinery in the south and Shahid Dolati facility in the west were also hit. Iran has descri