Another disaster in Minsk – flood (Photo)

• 27.06.2010, 2:37

The heavy rain in Minsk on June 26 caused traffic collapse in the district of Nyamiha, the city center.

Public transport couldn’t move, cars were stalling, some of them, which didn’t leave the dangerous zone, were flooded. Many low-lying areas in Minsk were also flooded.

Four trolleybuses stopped in Nyamiha district in water, passengers could get off only with the help of rescues. 53 persons were taken to safer places by boats or carried on arms, BelaPAN reports.

Cars were evacuated by tow trucks. Drivers whose cars weren’t flooded had another reason for concern – the short torrential rain was accompanied by hail storm, which was unusual for this time of the year.

Traffic of public transport in Minsk was restricted for three hours. Taking into account the scale of the natural disaster and traditional problems with drain system, this is a rather good result.

As STV reports, the city authorities launched an operation “Poseidon” as the shower started in Minsk. As the rain intensified, special vehicles of the Emergency Ministry and utility services were sent to the submerged places.

“Among the equipment used were fire pump stations, road tankers, cars with mobile rescue squads,” chief officer on duty of the Emergency Ministry Ihar Mikhailou said.

Minsk mayor Mikalai Ladutska visited all damaged spots. According to him, the city would get rid of the problem of flooding when a new sewer system was constructed.

We remind that the Minsk authorities plan to complete the construction of the central storm sewer by 2018…

Photo by Bymedia.net

Photo by Alyaksandr Korsakau, Anton Matolka, TUT.by