Snowstorm Wreaks Havoc in Lebanon
A severe snowstorm lashing Lebanon since Friday has caused considerable damage to crops, blocked major roads and downed power lines in several areas.
Strong winds in the northern district of Akkar blocked the international highway of al-Abdeh-Abboudiyeh after it toppled trees. The residents later reopened it.
Broken trees also blocked secondary roads between the towns of al-Kwaikhat and al-Qonbor in Akkar.
The storm damaged the boats of fishermen and tore off several advertisement billboards as snow covered areas as low as 650 meters above sea level.
In the northern Bekaa valley, life came almost to a standstill amid a heavy snowfall as several villages in Hermel’s mountainous terrains were isolated.
Ambulances, civil service units and the Internal Security Forces were placed on high alert to help stranded residents. Public works ministry bulldozers were on Saturday working to reopen roads blocked with snow.
Also in the Baalbek district in the Bekaa, the snowfall blocked almost all roads and isolated a lot of villages which also suffered from power cuts.
But the international highway of Baalbek-Zahle-Homs was open for vehicles equipped with tire chains.
In Tyre in southern Lebanon, the storm that has been lashing Lebanon since Friday caused major damage to crops in the valleys of Tyre and Naqoura.
Heavy rains also caused landslides in the towns of Burj Rahhal and areas between Bedyas and al-Halousiyeh.
Strong waves also brought activity at the port of Tyre to a standstill.
The Dahr al-Baidar international highway was also blocked with heavy snow and a four-centimeter thick ice on Saturday morning.
Source: Naharnet
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