Severe storms hit Belarus, causing multiple fatalities and extensive damage
Image credit: Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus (stillshot)
A powerful storm swept through Belarus on July 14, 2024, causing significant damage, destroying major power lines, and claiming 6 lives. The storms continued through the rest of the week, affecting primarily the capital of Minsk and surrounding regions on July 18.
- Over 2 000 towns and villages have been left without power due to strong winds, which have uprooted trees and torn off roofs of houses.
- Many cities in the south of the country still have no power.
A series of severe weather events have ravaged Belarus over the past 5 days, resulting in significant damage and loss of life. 6 people, including two children, died during a heavy storm that swept through much of the country on July 14.
Additionally, Minsk has been struck by a major flood caused by heavy rains, bringing the city’s traffic to a standstill and disrupting daily life.
The emergencies ministry in Belarus reported on July 17, that 330 cities and villages were damaged by the storm on July 14, primarily in the Brest, Gomel, and Mogilev regions in the south of the country.
The worst-hit city, Mazyr, home to a major oil refinery, remains without electricity in some areas.
“We have never encountered anything like this when the energy system lost all the power generating and supplying all lines in the Mazyr region and surrounding areas. The wind was abnormally strong and this led to the destruction of high-voltage lines,” said Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Sivak.
The south of Belarus is still dealing with the consequences of last week's storm – around 300 towns and villages still have power disruptions. Now, Minsk is under storm and flooded. People are blocked in public transport, some buildings are damaged. pic.twitter.com/zcvfteIJ9K
— Franak Viačorka (@franakviacorka) July 18, 2024
The severe weather continued as heavy rains hit the Minsk region on July 18, turning streets of the capital into rushing streams.
Many buildings and properties were flooded, and drivers found themselves trapped in their cars. Authorities have urged residents to stay home for safety.
For nearly two hours, passengers were trapped in trams that were stuck due to floodwaters.
City bus traffic was suspended due to the downpour, and 38 streets were reported to be flooded, with the Park Chelyuskintsev metro station being closed immediately after water entered.
Belarusian politician Franak Viačorka reported on social media about the dire weather situation, noting that the south of Belarus is still grappling with the aftermath of last week’s storm. Around 300 towns and villages continue to experience power outages.
In Mogilev, a five-year-old girl was crushed by a tree, and in Rechytsa, a 13-year-old boy at a summer camp died.
References:
1 Belarus hit by flood and hurricane: Six dead in weather chaos – MSN – July 19, 2024
2 6 dead and cities left without electricity as storm sweeps through Belarus – AP– July 17, 2024
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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