MINSK, 19 July (BelTA) – We need to learn lessons from the recent devastating thunderstorms and provided response, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a teleconference on 19 July, BelTA has learned.
According to Belarusian Emergencies Minister Vadim Sinyavsky, thunderstorms that took place on 13-14 July wreaked havoc in 74 regions of Belarus causing extensive damage to 949 settlements. Six people, including two children, were killed by fallen trees and roofing elements. 72 people, including three children, were injured. 24 of them, including seven children, are still in hospitals, with five people in serious condition.
The head of state remarked that with such a number of victims, the Emergencies Ministry seriously underperformed in warning people about the degree of danger of upcoming weather conditions: “You did not do enough to make people concerned and cautious. Yes, it was difficult and unexpected. I saw it and understand it. But that is not what interests me. How did the Emergencies Ministry system perform during that period?”
The minister said that all residents of the country had been notified about the upcoming extreme weather events from 11 to 14 July through phone alert messages. The relevant alerts were also broadcast on television, radio, Telegram channels and social networks. Here, the president reasonably noted that meteorologists have recently been issuing warnings about possible unfavorable weather conditions quite often, and people have already got used to such warnings, largely ignoring them, since often such forecasts come as inaccurate. “There is a lot of probability in weather forecasts. Your almost daily weather warnings led to the public becoming complacent and ignoring them. You failed to take a responsible approach to this emergency situation [on 13-14 July],” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The head of state also criticized the slow response of officials. “Even if you did not warn in advance, you had to set up an emergency commission in Gomel within two or three hours after the disaster in order to provide support and assistance to people, provide water, food and other things to those affected by the storms. It should have been done immediately, not a day and a half later. We were running late by 12-24 hours,” the president stressed.
“Issues should be solved quickly and promptly. Lessons are the major conclusion from this. I once again demand from the commissioners and aides to immediately visit the affected places and deal with these issues,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“If necessary, we will engage our military. Our country is relatively small. We know what to do,” the head of state said.
It is not the time for self-chastising, Aleksandr Lukashenko said, adding that it is necessary to draw conclusions from the incident. “If [Energy Minister Viktor] Karankevich lacked poles or wires, then it is necessary to make this reserve. If you lacked something while responding to the disaster, take this into account for the future,” the president said addressing Emergencies Minister Vadim Sinyavsky. “This should be a major lesson for us.”
Indeed, the weather conditions were extreme, nothing like this has happened in Belarus for a long time. “It was a terrible situation. We should draw conclusions. God hit us on the head (I do not know what for, though), spared us at the same time,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. At the same time, the worst scenario was avoided, the president believes. The situation at Mozyr oil refinery, fortunately, remained under control, with expensive imported equipment in operation. “God helped us here. God hit us on the head and spared us. Make conclusions from this,” the head of state warned.
“Make the appropriate conclusions, and do you best to avoid the need for such talk in the future,” the president said.
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