Belarus reels from devastating hurricane and Minsk flooding

On Thursday (July 18), the streets of Minsk turned into rushing streams, reported Belarusian media. Photos published online by the Belarusian agency BelTA clearly showed the scale of the destruction.

Many buildings and properties were flooded. Drivers were unable to get out of their cars, and authorities appealed for people to stay home. For almost two hours, passengers were trapped in streetcars, which were standing in water. Due to the heavy rain, city bus service was halted.

According to data from the ministry, cited by BelTA, 38 streets were flooded. The worst situation was around the Park Czaluskina metro station, which was closed immediately after water entered the station.

Belarusian politician Franak Viačorka reported on social media about the disastrous weather situation Belarusians are facing: "Southern Belarus is still dealing with the effects of last week's storm – about 300 towns and villages are still experiencing power outages. Now Minsk is flooded," he wrote.

As a result of the hurricane that raged over Belarus on Sunday, six people, including two children, were killed.

In Mahilyow, in the east of the country, a five-year-old girl was crushed by a tree. In Rechytsa, in the Homiel Region, a 13-year-old boy died while at a summer camp. A video on the internet shows strong winds toppling trees onto a playground where children were playing. Several people were injured across the country due to the hurricane.

The weather disaster hit southern and eastern Belarus the hardest, but the capital also suffered.

Due to the weather anomalies and strong squally winds, more than two thousand localities were left without power. The wind uprooted trees and tore roofs off houses. Today, many localities in the country's south are still without power.