Reports say that electrical cables were damaged as Moscow was lashed with high winds, hail and torrential rain.
The winds of up to 110 km/h (70 mph) were described by meteorologists as extremely rare for the city, and caused structural damage to buildings.
If the death toll of 11 is confirmed - and some officials give a lower figure - it would be the deadliest storm in the city for more than 100 years.
The city's investigative committee said that "hurricane winds" had caused trees to fall in various parts of the city, killing five pedestrians.
An elderly man was also killed at a bus stop, it said. TASS news agency says that 69 people have been injured.
Two people were killed after a tree fell onto their summer house, Interfax reported.
BBC Weather: Forecast for Moscow
Delays had been reported on some metro lines but normal service appears to have resumed.
Tourist Frank Davis, from Newfoundland in Canada, was caught in heavy traffic in Moscow as the "dramatic storm" struck.
"The sky darkened noticeably and the winds were extremely strong.... with debris flying around from all directions," he told the BBC.
Moscow's Mayor, Sergei Sobyanin tweeted: "My condolences to the friends and family of those killed."
Teams were busy trying to clear fallen trees from the city's streets.
"We reacted quickly and are recovering now," said Gulnara Shakirova, a community service assistant.
"Many good trees, not old ones, were brought down. We are trying to remove all the trees before night falls."
Photos circulating on social media show fallen trees blocking roads and a large roadside advertising board crushing parked cars.
A video also shows strong winds tearing apart the roof of a covered tennis centre in Zhulebino district.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Versailles, near Paris, where he has been holding talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.
[BBC Sources]
0 comments:
Post a Comment