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Heavy blizzards in Far East cut power transmission wires

The fleet, which was out in the waters of the Sea of Japan when the storm began, withstood the onslaught of the cyclone

VLADIVOSTOK, November 24 (Itar-Tass) — A powerful cyclone has hit the Maritime region in the Russian Far East. On Thursday morning the cyclone which rushed across the Tatar Strait brought an avalanche of snow mixed with rain to Sakhalin. The cyclone caused a heavy sea storm in the strait as a result of which the ferry service from Vanino to Kholmsk has been closed. Four ferries of the Sakhalin shipping company intended for transportation of 100 passengers and 26 rail cars each have harbored at the coast in the Khabarovsk region where the weather is fine, a dispatcher of the ferry service said. Yuzhno- Sakhalinsk airport has been operating normally.

Meanwhile, the Maritime region has been estimating losses the cyclone inflicted. Around 40 traffic accidents in which one was injured have been reported in the sea port of Nakhodka, its dispatcher service said.

The fleet, which was out in the waters of the Sea of Japan when the storm began, withstood the onslaught of the cyclone. There were no incidents on ships, the Vladivostok Sea Rescue Coordination Center said.

The cyclone caused "a blackout " in several settlements in Sakhalin where the wind force cut power transmission wires. Power supply was cut to the settlements of Dolinsk, Tomari, some areas in Yuzho-Salkalinsk and three other settlements in the south of Sakhalin, the press service of Sakhalinenergo company said. Nineteen repair teams have been sent to the "blackout" territories to resume power supply throughout the day as planned.

The city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is deep in wet snow. A total of 670 clean-up machines and other equipment have been used to clear the city roads. Weathermen said the situation would worsen in the south of Sakhalin, where the cyclone is expected to continue for 24 more hours yet.