A powerful snowstorm that began earlier this week has paralyzed life on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, resulting in at least two fatalities. In the regional capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, authorities have maintained a state of emergency as extreme weather conditions continue to disrupt infrastructure and daily operations across the territory.
According to official reports, the following measures and consequences have been recorded due to the natural disaster:
- Public transportation has been completely suspended throughout the affected areas;
- Schools have canceled classes, and most enterprises have transitioned to remote work modes;
- Personnel from the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya) have been deployed to assist in the evacuation of residents and provide emergency aid.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations stated that rescuers are working around the clock to reach citizens trapped in homes buried under the snow. The "Fobos" Weather Forecasting Center reported that the snow cover has reached a height of 1.5 meters, with forecasts indicating that this figure will continue to rise as the storm persists.
Experts emphasize that this is the most intense snowfall recorded on the peninsula in the last 30 years. Footage shared on social media platforms shows residential buildings and vehicles completely submerged under the snow, highlighting the scale of the crisis. The Kamchatka Peninsula, located in the Russian Far East, is known for its harsh winters and volcanic activity, but the current volume of precipitation has exceeded historical norms, creating significant logistical challenges for regional emergency services.
