A cyclone raging along the entire coastline of Russia’s Far-Eastern island of Sakhalin has compelled the authorities of this insular region to suspend ferryboat traffic between the Sakhalin port of Kholmsk and the portVanino on the mainland, Itar-Tass reports. of
Four diesel-powered ferries that transport railway coaches and passengers have taken anchor in Vanino and in the port city of Sovietskaya Gavan, also on the western coast of the Sea of Japan.
Sakhalin weather surveyors say the speed of cyclone winds reaches 25 meters per second on the island’s eastern coast and 24 meters per second on the western coast.
All commercial ports have stopped operations. Ships have been removed to Aniva Bay from the wharves of the southern port of Korsakov and about 20 ships are taking shelter in the area of the town of Taranai.
During Tuesday night and early morning Wednesday, snowstorms have formed a thick layer of snow on many roads across mountain passes. The authorities have rushed 88 powerful bulldozers, graders and other clearing vehicles to clear away the snow banks.
The epicenter of the cyclone hovers above the Cape of Tolerance, Sakhalin’s eastern extremity.