Winter Storm Paralyzes Far East Russia's Sakhalin
A powerful winter storm prompted authorities in Far East Russia’s Sakhalin region to declare a state of emergency on Wednesday.“Due to the extremely bad weather conditions in southern Sakhalin, a state of emergency has been declared,” Sakhalin region Governor Valery Limarenko said.
“All emergency services are working round the clock” to clear roads and walkways, he added.
Regional authorities urged businesses to have their employees work from home during the blizzard, which started blanketing the region — more than 6,000 kilometers east of Moscow — on Tuesday night.
The storm paralyzed the public transportation system in the regional capital of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and major roadways were made inaccessible.
Videos shared on social media showed residents trying to shovel snowdrifts that reached above their shoulders, while tractors equipped with plows could be seen stuck on city streets inundated with snow.
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