18 Jun 2021 16:45

Cyclone-stricken Yalta declares emergency

SIMFEROPOL. June 18 (Interfax) - A state of emergency has been declared in cyclone-stricken Yalta, city administration head Yanina Pavlenko said.

"An emergency has been declared in Yalta, rivers have burst their banks, the city center has been flooded, and an evacuation has begun," Pavlenko told reporters.

Three warming centers have been deployed and staffed with volunteers. Military vehicles are evacuating residents and will be transporting schoolchildren home after they take the unified state exam, she said.

Power outages are possible. "We are cutting power supply wherever short circuits are possible. Unfortunately, there are lots of such streets," the city manager said.

The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry's department in Crimea has reported the flooding of numerous residential buildings.

A cyclone hit Crimea on Thursday. A nearly two-month amount of precipitation fell in eastern Crimea on June 17, and the authorities declared a state of emergency. About 350 houses were flooded and almost 1,400 were evacuated. Energy, gas and water supplies were disrupted. Kerch sustained the most severe damage: boats were the only way to move around many streets.

Pouring rain began in southern Crimea in the small hours of Friday, and a two-month amount of precipitation fell. All pedestrian crossings are flooded in Yalta, trolley bus service is not available, and bus service is partial.

It has been raining practically every day in Crimea since the end of May. The Emergency Situations Ministry issued storm warnings on June 17 and 18.