Strong Winds In Minsk Topple Trees, Damage Billboards And Cars

The Emergencies Ministry reported on the последствия of strong winds in Minsk. Over the past day, rescuers provided assistance in 41 cases. There were no casualties in the capital.

Four vehicles were damaged. Three of them were hit by falling facade cladding from a residential building, and one was damaged by a falling tree.

Rescuers also responded to the following incidents:

• 18 cases of dismantling hazardous metal sheets (flashings);
• 2 cases of cutting hazardous tree branches;
• 10 cases of cutting fallen and hazardous trees;
• 5 cases of removing damaged billboard panels;
• 2 cases of cordoning off areas where facade cladding had fallen;
• dismantling a hazardous polycarbonate sheet from a bus stop structure;
• dismantling hazardous decorative elements from a street lighting mast;
• dismantling hazardous wooden elements from a residential balcony structure;
• dismantling a hazardous slate sheet from the roof of a communal shed.

An orange weather alert due to strong winds has been declared in Belarus for Sunday and Monday. Today, northwesterly winds with gusts of 15–20 m/s, locally up to 24 m/s, are expected across most of the country.

In the Hrodna Region, Emergencies Ministry units responded 28 times to cut up and remove fallen trees. In addition to roads and residential areas, trees damaged four passenger cars in the regional centre.

In the Brest Region, 17 cases of fallen trees blocking roads, pedestrian paths and residential areas were recorded. Rescuers also responded twice to damage to residential building roofs to secure slate, and carried out work to dismantle torn metal sheets from an advertising banner and a ventilation shaft.

In the Minsk Region, rescuers were needed three times to clear fallen trees, and in the Viciebsk Region — once.