MAGADAN, October 11 (Itar-Tass) – A heavy cyclone with snow and rain has descended on Russia’s huge Far-Eastern Magadan region, colloquially known in Russia as Kolyma after the name of a major river flowing there.
Gasps of wind on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk reach 17 meters per second, the Kolyma Department for Hydrometeorology said.
Calamitous weather has embraced the city of Magadan and the territories of Ola, Northern Evenk and Omsukchan districts.
Poor visibility and considerations of preventing road accidents have compelled the authorities to restrict the journeys of small cars, busses, and trucks with trailers on the region’s main automobile roads leading from Madagan to the towns of Balagannoye and Talon and on a road between the towns of Solnechny and Ola.
Other automobile routes remain open for the vehicles of all types.
The authorities have placed rescue units on high alert and have rushed all the available snowplowing equipment to the roads.
In the meantime, officials say all the life maintenance systems in Magadan and other towns of the region are functioning properly.