Reports from the Russian Far East say the island of Sakhalin was hit by a powerful cyclone last night completely cutting off the island from the mainland.

Television reports say neither sea nor air communications with the island are operating and on Sakhalin itself the roads are paralysed.

The adverse weather conditions come on top electricity and heating cuts to homes on Sakhalin. The Russian NTV company said it had received a joint letter from several hundred residents of the town of Kholmsk who said they had no fuel for heating and temperatures in their homes got no higher than six degrees Celsius.

The islanders said they realised their living conditions were merely uncomfortable compared to the people of Maritime Territory where problems have been more severe.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service