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Powerful snow cyclone affects south Baikal area

Irkutsk International Airport has been closed for arrivals and departure of all types of aircraft

IRKUTSK, October 31 (Itar-Tass) — The southern Baikal area on Monday morning was swept by a powerful snow cyclone. The Irkutsk regional hydrometeorology centre told Itar-Tass that the cyclone formed in the area of low atmospheric pressure and the heavy precipitation will continue until the evening.

According to the regional traffic police, passenger transport traffic has been closed on the Alexandrovsky, Kachug, Baikal routes, as well as the M-55 Irkutsk - Chita federal highway. The federal highway M-53 from Irkutsk to Krasnoyarsk has not been closed.

Irkutsk International Airport has been closed for arrivals and departure of all types of aircraft.

Most of Irkutsk Region is situated on the south-eastern part of the Central Siberian Plateau surrounded by the Eastern Sayan Mountains and the mountain ranges of the area west of Lake Baikal (Pribaikalye). High levels of seismic activity have been recorded in the eastern part of the region. Two-thirds of the region is located at elevations of more than 500 metres above sea level.