A hurricane accompanied by hail that swept through the Pavlodar region over the weekend left 11 settlements without electricity and damaged dozens of roofs and facades, reports infohub.kz.
The most severe damage, according to the regional administration, was recorded in the village of Kalkaman in the city of Aksu and the village of Kudaykol near Ekibastuz. There, the roofs of two apartment buildings and 47 private houses were partially torn off. In Kalkaman, the facades and windows of two schools and a cultural center were also damaged, and in one apartment building, interior partitions collapsed in several apartments.
Due to the storm, 11 settlements in Aksu and Ekibastuz were left without power. In addition, eight power line supports were damaged on a 220 kV EEC power line section between Kalkaman and Kudaykol. Power engineers are continuing emergency restoration work. Electricity has been fully restored in eight settlements, and partially in three others.
Regional governor Asain Baikhanov inspected the damaged facilities, met with local residents, and held an operational meeting with representatives of relevant departments, local administrations, civil protection services, and utilities. "We need to complete the inspection of all damaged facilities as soon as possible, fully restore power, organize repairs of roofs and other damaged structures, and provide necessary assistance to residents of affected homes," Baikhanov instructed. He said special attention should be paid to restoring schools and other social facilities so they can be promptly prepared for further use.
Special commissions are continuing to assess the damage. According to the regional administration, there were no fatalities or injuries from the weather. The storm hit the region on July 19, with hurricane-force winds accompanied by thunderstorms and hail.
Earlier, it was reported that six residents of the region sought medical help after the storm, including three teenagers. In Pavlodar, the hurricane with hail caught football fans by surprise as they watched the World Cup final on a large screen on the embankment. In Ekibastuz, authorities are considering declaring a local state of emergency.