Ukraine's Hydrometeorological Centre explained why the dust storm emerged in Kyiv region on April 16. The authority's press office reported that on Thursday evening.
"A dust storm, quite an unusual natural feature for this city, was observed in Kyiv in the afternoon of April 16. The worsening of meteorological situation was, in fact, visible all over the territory of the capital, which caused certain alert among the public", reads the press office's message.
According to Director of the Centre Mykola Kulbida, the dust storm was caused by the increase of the western wind speed to 15-20 meters per second. The upper layers of dry soil were blown away, creating a dust screen.
The official insisted that the dust storm has nothing to do with the fires in Chornobyl exclusion zone. The storm is of no chemical or radiation threat, he said. The wind speed is fading, and the dust storm will be over by April 17, Kulbida concluded.
Earlier, Head of the State Emergency Service Mykola Chechotkin said rescue teams need another few days to cope with the smoldering after the fire in the Chornobyl exclusion zone. On April 14, the situation in the area worsened, because the fire was hard to take under control. The Service sent a large number of vehicles and staff workers to put it out. The rain helped firemen extinguish the fire.
