Destruction in Gaza hit by severe storm and winds – in pictures

Monday, 13 December 2010 15:00| MEMO

EXCLUSIVE PICTURES

Gaza has been hit by a cold air mass, which has caused severe storms in the region. The high speed winds have destroyed buildings, uprooted trees and caused damage to crops and the sea port in the southern Gaza Strip.

While lighter buildings such as those constructed with corrugated iron were badly affected by the adverse weather conditions, the biggest losses occurred in the fishing sector. A number of fishing boats were destroyed and fishermen have had to remove their boats and equipment from the port which has been battered by strong waves.

 

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Pictures of Storm, weather and damage throughout middle-east

An Israeli woman walks next to the walls of Jerusalem’s old city, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010. Heavy rain and fierce winds pummeled countries across the Middle East early Sunday, killing a woman in Lebanon, sinking a ship off Israel’s coast and prompting Egypt to close its largest Mediterranean port. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

General view showing the dust storms in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Dec, 12, 2010. Heavy rain and fierce winds pummeled countries across the Middle East on Sunday, killing a woman in Lebanon, sinking a ship off Israel’s coast and prompting Egypt to close its largest Mediterranean port. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

An Egyptian fisherman in his boat on the Nile river, during a dust storms in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Dec, 12, 2010. Heavy rain and fierce winds pummeled countries across the Middle East on Sunday, killing a woman in Lebanon, sinking a ship off Israel’s coast and prompting Egypt to close its largest Mediterranean port. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Egyptians pass by shore after heavy rains in Alexandria, Egypt, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010. Heavy rain and fierce winds pummeled countries across the Middle East on Sunday, killing a woman in Lebanon, sinking a ship off Israel’s coast and prompting Egypt to close its largest Mediterranean port. (AP Photo/Tarek Fawzy)

A man stands in front of towering water as high waves smash against a wall in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010. Heavy rain and fierce winds pummeled countries across the Middle East early Sunday, killing a woman in Lebanon, sinking a ship off Israel’s coast and prompting Egypt to close its largest Mediterranean port. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

An Israeli man walks on the beach in Tel Aviv, Sunday, Dec 12, 2010. Heavy rain and fierce winds pummeled countries across the Middle East on Sunday, killing a woman in Lebanon, sinking a ship off Israel’s coast and prompting Egypt to close its largest Mediterranean port. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Palestinians use a crane to lift small boats from the water at the port in Gaza City, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010, in preparation for strong winds which are predicted in the area. Heavy rain and fierce winds pummeled countries across the Middle East early Sunday, killing a woman in Lebanon, sinking a ship off Israel’s coast and prompting Egypt to close its largest Mediterranean port. (AP Photo /Adel Hana)

An Israeli man takes cover as waves crash at Tel Aviv port, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010. Heavy rain and fierce winds pummeled countries across the Middle East on Sunday, killing a woman in Lebanon, sinking a ship off Israel’s coast and prompting Egypt to close its largest Mediterranean port. (AP Photo/Dan Bality)

Small fishing boats are seen stacked atop of each other after high winds and towering waves struck Beirut’s seaside coastal area, Lebanon, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010. Heavy rain and fierce winds pummeled countries across the Middle East early Sunday, killing a woman in Lebanon, sinking a ship off Israel’s coast and prompting Egypt to close its largest Mediterranean port. (AP Photo/Ahmad Omar)

Municipality workers try to maneuver a barrier that was damaged by high waves in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010. Heavy rain and fierce winds have pummeled countries across the Middle East early Sunday, killing a woman in Lebanon, sinking a ship off Israel’s coast and prompting Egypt to close its largest Mediterranean port. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

An Israeli child plays at the beach in Tel Aviv, Sunday, Dec 12, 2010. Heavy rain and fierce winds pummeled countries across the Middle East on Sunday, killing a woman in Lebanon, sinking a ship off Israel’s coast and prompting Egypt to close its largest Mediterranean port. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Palestinian farmers inspect the damage to their cucumber field following powerful wind gusts in the West Bank village of Bardala, in the northern Jordan Valley December 12, 2010. Squalls battered the West Bank and Israel’s coast and interior on Sunday, disrupting shipping and road traffic and bringing some snow to the north of the country following an especially parched winter.

Palestinian farmer Isa Sawafta stands on the frame of his cucumber greenhouse as he tries to fix damage caused by powerful wind gusts in the West Bank village of Bardala, in the northern Jordan Valley December 12, 2010. Squalls battered the West Bank and Israel’s coast and interior on Sunday, disrupting shipping and road traffic and bringing some snow to the north of the country following an especially parched winter

A cardboard cut-out used as a target in a shooting range hangs on a fence near Kibbutz Nir Am just outside the northern Gaza Strip December 12, 2010.… Read more »