Heavy cyclone pounding Russia's Magadan region.

MAGADAN, October 11 (Itar-Tass) - A heavy cyclone with snow and rain
has descended on Russia's huge Far-Eastern Magadan region, colloquially
known in Russia as Kolyma after the name of a major river flowing there.
Gasps of wind on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk reach 17 meters per
second, the Kolyma Department for Hydrometeorology said.
Calamitous weather has embraced the city of Magadan and the
territories of Ola, Northern Evenk and Omsukchan districts.
Poor visibility and considerations of preventing road accidents have
compelled the authorities to restrict the journeys of small cars, busses,
and trucks with trailers on the region's main automobile roads leading
from Madagan to the towns of Balagannoye and Talon and on a road between
the towns of Solnechny and Ola.
Other automobile routes remain open for the vehicles of all types.
The authorities have placed rescue units on high alert and have rushed
all the available snowplowing equipment to the roads.
In the meantime, officials say all the life maintenance systems in
Magadan and other towns of the region are functioning properly.