Moscow storm: 11 killed as high winds strike Russian capital

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Media captionMobile phone footage shows the moment the storm hit Moscow

At least 11 people died when a severe thunderstorm hit the Russian capital Moscow, health officials say.

Hundreds of trees were toppled by the storm, and more than 50 people sought medical help.

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.

Image copyrightJOHN WILKINSON

Image captionThe roof of the Kremlin Senate was damaged by the storm

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.

Image copyrightEPA

Image captionMost fatalities are reported to have been caused by falling trees

Image copyrightEPA

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.