Yesterday’s fierce storm caused floods and blackouts in Chisinau, UPDATE

{UPDATE: replaces par. 4, adds par. 5, 6 and 7} The heavy rain and strong wind caused havoc in Chisinau yesterday evening. In only half an hour, the traffic was paralyzed. Whole quarters remained in darkness after the supply of electricity failed, Info-Prim Neo reports. As usual, Albisoara, Aleea Garii, T. Vladimirescu, Vadul lui Voda, Inculet streets and Tabacaria Veche area were the worst hit. They turned into real lakes. The strong wind uprooted dozens of trees and broke branches. The storm broke unexpectedly and the municipal services could hardly cope with the difficulties. According to the Chisinau Emergency Division, 89 trees on streets and in parks and several posters of economic entities were knocked down. Some of the trees fell on units of transport parked by the roadside. During the night and in the morning, squads of the Green Spaces Association worked to remove the displaced trees. Technical teams of the Public Amenities Division will clean the yards of the apartment buildings today and over the weekend, the Chisinau City Hall says in a communiqué. According to the director of the road and bridge management company “Exdrupo” Efim Cheptanari, the precipitation yesterday was less heavy than on July 9. The sewer pits in the most frequently flooded areas were opened and cleaned last week. As a result, the water on some streets did not accumulate. The specialized services are now evacuating the water from private homes located on Tabacria Veche St. The storm damaged 23 power stations. Until 11.00, 13 of them had been repaired. The rest will become functional by 17.00. The municipal dispatcher’s office recorded 220 phone calls over yesterday’s heavy rain from people.