Two planes arriving from Moscow on Tuesday morning were unable to land at the Hermann Titov Airport in Barnaul, Altai region, due to strong winds and heavy snowfall, which have left many homes without power.
According to a statement on the airport's website, Sibir flight S7217 and UTAir flight UT467 both heading from Moscow to Barnaul had to make an emergency landing at the Tolmachevo airfield in Novosibirsk.
One hundred and eighty passengers are currently waiting in Novosibirsk to flight to Barnaul and another 166 are grounded in Barnaul waiting to fly to Moscow, the statement said.
A weather warning went out Monday night, and strong winds and heavy snowfall began early Tuesday morning. While one flight did manage to take off early Tuesday with only a slight delay, it is not yet clear when the other scheduled flights will be able to do the same.
The inclement conditions have also caused widespread power outages, with the number of villages without electricity nearing 70.
A statement on the website of Altaienergo, a local energy company, said that teams of electricians have been working in almost zero visibility to restore power to those affected.
Portable backup generators are to be installed in areas of "social importance," the statement said, as the bad weather is expected to worsen.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.