GORNO-ALTAISK, December 29 (Itar-Tass) —— Every new day more and more buildings and facilities are found with the damages from a strong earthquake in Tuva overnight to December 28.
The traffic is restricted on the main Kyzyl bridge Kommunalny across the Yenisei that connects the right and left banks, on which the Tuva capital is situated. The traffic restrictions spread on heavy-duty trucks (over five tonnes) and passenger traffic, the press service of the republican government told Itar-Tass on Thursday. The traffic restrictions were introduced under the instructions from the territorial department of the state motor traffic watchdog.
At a meeting with Minister of Regional Development Viktor Basargin overnight to Thursday Tuva Prime Minister Sholban Kara-ool noted that “the carrying pylons of the bridge were weakened long ago, after the earthquake the bridge poses a greater threat for safety of people.” He informed about traffic restrictions on the bridge for heavy-duty trucks. “The overhaul of the bridge should be launched that will require at least 72 million roubles,” Sholban Kara-ool said.
Last April the bridge built in 1963 was found in the emergency state and was closed for the repairs. In Kyzyl on the left bank of the river about 30,000 people live. Presently the Mayor’s Office is developing a scheme for the traffic on the right bank of Kyzyl.
A republican boarding school was also substantially damaged in the Tuva capital from an earthquake. The walls at the school had strong cracks, not only the plaster, but also the doorways collapsed in many places. The ceiling caved in the school hall and may fall down at any moment of time. Over 100 children were moved to a one-storey school canteen. The Kyzyl authorities reported that the cracks in the walls and on the ceilings were also found at 15 secondary schools, the buildings of the department of culture and arts and the pharmacy.
The aftermaths of the earthquake were already cleaned up in Erzhei and Sizim in the Kaa-Khem district in Tuva. Power utility workers restored the power supplies, which were disrupted over a natural disaster, and repaired the electric power substation. Over 10,000 people remained without power supplies over the tremors in Tuva. The power supplies were restored to the absolute majority of them quickly.
The emergency situation regime was introduced in Tuva. To clean up the aftermaths of the earthquake the scope of measures are being taken to build up the air force of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations. On Thursday, Tuva leader Sholban Kara-ool will meet with emergency experts, which will have to assess the damages from the earthquake.
On December 27, a strong earthquake measured 6.7 points rocked in the Kaa-Khem district, 100 kilometres east of Kyzyl at a depth of ten kilometres. According to the experts, the seismic activities continue in Tuva. Four aftershocks measured from 4.3 points and 5.1 points occurred.