Amateur video footage showing toppled trees after Wednesday's windstorm in the town of Yefremov. (Tatyana Elagina / YouTube)
Tula Governor Vladimir Gruzdev arrived in the town of Yefremov to personally coordinate the cleanup operation in the aftermath of the windstorm that hit the area.
The governor declared a state of emergency in the town, 300 kilometers south of Moscow, after 20 people suffered injuries and one person was hospitalized in Wednesday's incident.
The hurricane left more than 200 buildings without gas and power. It damaged 179 residential dwellings, five schools, two kindergartens and a number of businesses, the Emergency Situations Ministry said.
"We are keeping the situation under control," Gruzdev said. "In the first place, it is important to restore the systems that support people's lives, starting with replacing windows in damaged buildings, and assessing the damage," he added.
Workers cleaning up damage from the storm. Those affected were promised compensation by the government. (Ministry for Emergency Situations / AP)
Video footage posted on YouTube shows toppled metal fences, rows of splintered trees, and concrete-block buildings with broken glass windows.
A small army of 3,500 people and 448 pieces of equipment have been mobilized to restore the services and deal with the aftermath of the storm, Interfax reported.
Over 50 trees and 15 lamp posts were also toppled in the storm.
The governor said that the regional authorities will pay as much as 50,000 rubles ($1,500) to those affected by the windstorm and that the government will create a special committee to review applications for support on a case-by-case basis.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.