Overnight storm dumps heavy snow, leaves Akkar residents isolated

Northern towns in Lebanon starting from Baalbek all the way to Ras Baalbek have become isolated due to heavy snow that fell Wednesday night.   Tarshish-Zahle, Dahr el Baidar and a few other roads in the Bekaa region were blocked due to the formation of a thick layer of snow. 

In Zahle, snow accumulated up to one meter.

In Akkar brush lands, mountain towns and villages have fallen victim to heavy snow fall and became isolated from the outside world.

Wata Mishmish has also been secluded and snow plowing machines could not reach the area due to the raging storm and thick snow layers that formed overnight.  

The mayor of Mishmish in the Akkar region said that there are four patients in this secluded area in dire need of dialysis treatment that can only be provided by Halba hospital. He urged the army and the Red Cross to transfer the patients to the hospital and administer aid to those in a critical medical condition.

The meteorological department in the Civil Aviation Authority forecasted rainy weather for Friday, adding that snow will fall at altitudes above 300 meters in the north. The department added that the rains will recede on Friday night in the coastal areas while snow will continue falling in the mountains and inlands.