Overview
- Multi‑day snowstorms driven by low‑pressure systems over the Sea of Okhotsk dumped months of snow, with drifts reaching second floors and vehicles entombed.
- Mayor Yevgeny Belyayev ordered a citywide emergency after the first fatal roof slide, with schools closed and public transport largely halted.
- Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry shared videos of teams reaching trapped residents, as military personnel, student brigades and Rosgvardiya joined clearing operations.
- Regional officials blamed housing management companies for failing to clear roofs, and local outlets reported delivery disruptions and shortages of staples such as bread, milk and eggs.
- Meteorologists cited strong easterly winds and near‑freezing temperatures, and now expect conditions to ease while keeping avalanche alerts in place through January 18.