A huge sandstorm hit the Polatlı district of Turkey's capital Ankara on Saturday.

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)