11 Aug , 09:01
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Natural Disaster in Dagestan: Downpours Wash Away Roads and Leave Villages Without Electricity
According to the republican Ministry of Emergency Situations, destructive mudflows and rockfalls damaged four sections of the strategic highway Makhachkala - Buynaksk - Upper Gunib. Authorities completely blocked traffic on the route, including the Gimri Tunnel — a key transport artery connecting mountainous areas with the center of the republic.
As a result of the natural disaster, eighteen settlements were left without electricity, affecting thousands of local residents. Despite the scale of the disaster, according to preliminary data, there are no casualties among the population.
Footage from social networks demonstrates the catastrophic consequences of the bad weather. Roads are almost completely submerged, raging streams sweep away cars, and some sections of the highway are covered with rocks and soil.
Significant forces have been mobilized to deal with the aftermath of the disaster. Four units of special equipment and eight employees of the road maintenance service are involved in clearing the roads. A detour route through the Levashinsky district has been organized for motorists.
Emergency services in Derbent, one of the largest cities in the republic, have been put on high alert since August 10 on the orders of the city head Khanlar Pashabekov. Utility crews promptly respond to locations to eliminate the consequences of the bad weather, and the situation is being constantly monitored.
The disaster affected not only mountainous areas but also major cities of the republic. The streets of Makhachkala and Kaspiysk were flooded after a powerful downpour. Videos show cars literally floating on flooded streets, splashing pedestrians with waves of water. Local children, despite the bad weather, have adapted to the situation - playing football while standing ankle-deep in water and running through puddles in rubber boots.
According to meteorologists, the unfavorable weather will persist in the region in the coming days. On August 10-11, Dagestan expects continued heavy rains, thunderstorms, hail, and wind intensification up to 20 m/s, which may lead to further deterioration of the situation.