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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
London - Asharq Al-Awsat

Strong Storm Leaves Casualties, Heavy Damage in Syria

Damage caused by the storm seen in Latakia on Saturday. (Syrian media)

Two civilians were killed and other wounded in a thunderstorm that swept Syria’s coast and northwestern regions on Saturday.

Local media, including state news agency SANA, published photos of the damage left behind by the rain and thunderstorm.

Several people were injured from falling trees and other solid objects in the Latakia and Tartous provinces and the coastal city of Baniyas.

Authorities said one of the victims was a fisherman, whose boat sank off the Latakia coast.

Ten people were injured and 70 vehicles were damaged in Latakia and Tartous cities.

Forty boats capsized and many others were damaged off Baniyas and Tartous.

Tourist sites and coastal resorts also incurred damage.

The other victim was a man in his 80s, who died from a lightning strike while working in his field in western Hama.

Strong winds in Baniyas caused heavy damage to greenhouses.

The Electricity Ministry said the winds caused heavy damage in the power network, with many electrical towers toppling in Latakia. Falling trees also damaged some of the towers, leaving several areas without power.

In the northwestern regions, which are held by the opposition, the heavy rain and wind damaged refugee camps and wounded three people.

Dozens of tents were flooded. Relief agencies helped evacuate people.

Syria has witnessed severe weather in the past three months, including heavy storms, strong winds and cold spells that have damaged crops and damaged refugee camps near the border with Turkey.

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