Damage from storm in Crimea rises to 1.35 bln rubles - authorities

ROSTOV-ON-DON. Nov 29 (Interfax) - The Crimean authorities have tentatively estimated the damage from the recent severe storm at 1.35 billion rubles, Crimean State Council Chairman Vladimir Konstantinov said.

"As of now, according to information from the executive authorities, damage totaling 1.349 billion rubles has been confirmed, [in particular] 802.6 million rubles based on information from municipalities, including 250 million rubles resulting from the emergency risk in the Bakhchisarai district," Konstantinov said at a meeting of the Crimean parliament.

The situation in Crimea remains "extremely complicated," he said.

As of Wednesday morning, 63 10kV power transmission lines and 917 transformer substations remained de-energized in Crimea, Konstantinov said. There is no power supply to 43,734 consumers and 44 social facilities. Five boiler houses that supply heating to five residential buildings and 35 social facilities are disabled, and water supply is limited in 116 localities.

Some 159 private homes and two residential buildings are flooded in Crimea, while 2,325 trees have fallen and been removed, he said.

Crimea head Sergei Aksyonov said earlier that 15 Crimean municipalities hit by the storm had declared an emergency.

On Tuesday, Crimean Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Sadakliyev tentatively estimated the damage from the storm at 490 million rubles but said the damage would grow significantly once the full information was gathered.