Windstorm uproots tree, kills zookeeper in Shymkent

 A windstorm has ripped off roofs, uprooted trees and even killed a person in Kazakhstan's southern city of Shymkent on May 12, Tengrinews reports.

The tragic accident happened at 8 in the morning. The 52-y.o. zookeeper was about her usual morning duties tending the Zoo's predators when the wind unexpectedly fell a tree killing her on the spot.

According to the Director of Shymkent Zoo Seidulla Zhubayev, the deceased woman - Gulnazym Tulenova - had a husband and three kids. She had worked in the Zoo for 25 years. The Zoo promised to arrange and pay for her funeral.

After the accident employees of the Zoo inspected all the other trees in the Zoo to identify the possible threats, but found no more old trees.

A state of emergency has been declared in Shymkent because of the wind on April 12. Head of the city's Emergency Department Nurbulat Derbesov said that all the city's schools and kindergartens would remain closed for 2 days.

On May 12 the wind ripped off roofs from several buildings, damaged electric lines, streetlights, traffic lights, billboards, signs, bus stops, trees and cars. Eight of the city's districts are experiencing electricity supply problems of various extent.

The emergency services released an alert that the 22 m/s wind would persist on May 13 and its gusts would reach the speed of 28 m/s.