The situation in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the capital of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula in the Far East, remains critical even though the snowstorm has begun to subside. In some areas, snow depths exceed 3 meters. Rescue teams and residents have rushed to dig snow tunnels to exit buildings and clear ice-covered roads after a powerful snowstorm swept through continuously since last week.
Vera Polyakova, head of the Kamchatka Meteorological Center, revealed that the snow accumulation since early January is unprecedented since records began 50 years ago. In December, snow levels were three times higher than average, and from January 1 to 16, snowfall was 150% above the normal average.
The average snow depth in the city is 170 centimeters, but in some wind-drifted areas, snow piles reach over 2.5 to 3 meters high, covering the first floors of several residential buildings.
Authorities declared a state of emergency in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky on Thursday, 15 January, after a tragic incident where two elderly men died when snow slid off building roofs. The mayor criticized property management companies for their delays in clearing snow from roofs, which led to the danger.
Vladimir Solodov, governor of Kamchatka region, stated that "the road situation is critical." He set a deadline for officials to clear the main roads and reopen traffic by 21 January. He also ordered monitoring of avalanche risks in residential areas and dangers posed by icicles hanging from building roofs.
Currently, residents have started helping each other shovel snow from in front of houses and roadways. Some bus services have resumed operation, but in many areas, high-performance off-road vehicles are still required for transportation.
Additionally, the governor has ordered daily checks on food and fuel deliveries to prevent shortages in remote areas and instructed schools to resume classes as soon as safety conditions allow.
/sourceThe Moscow Times