A hurricane and thunderstorms in Russia's Khabarovsk Territory on Tuesday evening and night left without electricity two dozen settlements, ruining houses and infrastructure facilities, an official at the local Emergency Situations Ministry told Itar-Tass on Wednesday. A lightning struck a transformer substation in the village of Svyatogorye, starting a fire which burnt the facility, and the transformer stations in the village of Grodekovo, Polyotnoye, Zoyevka, Sita and other settlements were put out of order during thunderstorms in the Lazo District. Gale-force winds ripped off roofs from houses, felled trees and tore up transmission lines, blocking roads. In the neighboring Vyazemsky district, more than 5,500 residents were left without power supply. The affected villages were Avana, Krasitsky, Kukelyovo, Kapitonovka and others, where 1,200 houses were cut off from electricity. Pylons collapsed and torn transmission lines were reported in the town of Vyazemsky. Repair teams were working throughout the night. The rescue effort involves municipal services and Emergency Situations Ministry units. "Life support facilities are operating according to schedule. The scope of damage is yet to be assessed," the local emergency situations ministry said.
