Strong winds across Jordan

[senorpepr]

AMMAN - The strong winds that swept the Kingdom over the weekend caused damage to street and roof billboards but no injuries or fatalities, according to officials.

The wind speed reached more than 80 kilometers per hour (45kts) in some areas of the Kingdom, officials at the Department of Meteorology told The Jordan Times.

Throwing a dust blanket on streets and cars, the winds caused extensive damage to street and roof billboards, satellite dishes as well as some traffic lights and signs.

Officials contacted by The Jordan Times said there were no reports of injuries or fatalities as a result of the windstorm.

"There were no major reports of extensive damage or injuries caused by the heavy winds," Deputy Amman Mayor Abdul Rahim Boucai said.

Boucai said there were minor reported incidents of electric and telephone cables being knocked down or being tangled with tree branches.

"These were a few normal incidents that would take place in such weather conditions," the official said.
Head of the Aforestation Department at the Ministry of Agriculture Suleiman Maaytah told The Jordan Times Saturday that there were no reports of major damage to forest areas. But he added that ministry officials will assess the damage, if any, on Sunday.

Most affected by the storm were advertising companies that use billboards.
"We had few Mupi signs that were knocked down by the strong winds and one rooftop billboard that sustained damage, but luckily no one was injured in these incidents," Al Mubdeh Company Media Manager Basel Jarrar said.

He stressed that the company abides by strict safety measures when erecting a billboard on streets and building rooftops.