Russia declares state of emergency in Murmansk after major power outage

(MENAFN) Authorities in Russia’s northern Murmansk region declared a state of emergency on Sunday following a significant electricity outage that left thousands of households without power. The disruption was caused by severe weather conditions that have affected the area since Friday.

Heavy wet snow and strong, gusty winds led to ice accumulation and frost forming on power lines, resulting in the collapse of five pylons across four lines, Murmansk Governor Andrey Chibis reported on Telegram.

“I have chaired a meeting of the emergency commission. All services are in constant coordination. Due to the protracted nature of the accident, we are introducing a state of emergency on the territory of the Murmansk region,” he said.

Governor Chibis added that repair crews are working continuously, but efforts to restore electricity have been hampered by harsh weather, challenging terrain, and steep inclines.

Temporary shelters have been established in the city of Murmansk, where residents are being provided with essential supplies, the head of the regional center, Ivan Lebedev, said on his Telegram channel.

In addition, Russia’s Investigative Committee has launched a criminal probe on charges of negligence. Investigators noted that at least two of the fallen power lines were 60 years old and overdue for replacement.

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