FREAK WINDS CAUSE FRESH DAMAGE IN MAKARSKA

MAKARSKA, March 31 (Hina) - Last night's strong gale force winds caused new damage in the central part of the Adriatic coast. After demolishing more than 100 pylons yesterday day, winds last night damaged a 110 kV transmission-line pylon leaving Makarska without electricity at 11.30 pm. Makarska has also been left without telephone connections for the third day in a row. Gale force winds reached speeds of more than 100 km per hour in Makarska, while the temperature climbed to a mere 4 degrees Celsius. Parts of Croatia which were left without electricity yesterday had been reconnected into the power grid during overnight. Many roads towards the coast were still closed because of traffic jams due to snow drifts in a mountainous region separating Croatian mainland from the coast. Ferry-boat traffic to the islands has not been reestablished, and bridges connecting the mainland to the Krk and Pag islands were only part opened for traffic. Traffic is limited to personal vehicles along part of Adriatic highway in the northern coastal region and Maslenica pontoon bridge. All buses which began their journey yesterday and the night before last towards Split and Herzegovina were still waiting in Karlobag (a northern part of the Adriatic coast). Gale force winds prevented aeroplanes landing at Zadar airport. 311507 MET mar 95