Three days without light and heat: how the Arctic is experiencing a large-scale blackout

A large-scale accident on power transmission lines on January 23 left Murmansk and Severomorsk without electricity. Due to ice and frost, five transmission towers collapsed, some of which had been in operation for more than 40 years. It will take at least a week to fully restore power supply, some educational institutions have switched to distance learning, and temporary groups and free playgrounds have been organized for children. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.

When will the power supply be restored in Murmansk

An accident on power transmission lines in the Murmansk region occurred on the evening of January 23 and caused a large-scale blackout. Due to ice and frost, five power transmission towers collapsed. Upon the fact of the outages, the Investigative Department of the region opened a criminal case under the article on negligence.

Two damaged pillars have been in operation since 1966, two more since 1982 and one since 1988, despite the fact that the standard service life is 40 years. After that, the power lines and supports undergo a technical inspection every five years. Round-the-clock heating points and field kitchens have been opened in Murmansk, and some houses are disconnected from the grid to reduce the load and ensure the operation of critical infrastructure.

On Saturday, January 25, an emergency regime was introduced in the region due to the protracted nature of the accident. According to the governor, it will not affect the daily lives of residents, but it allows them to attract additional equipment and materials from private companies.

It will take at least a week to completely eliminate the accident and restore power supply in Murmansk and Severomorsk, Governor of the Murmansk Region Andrey Chibis said at an operational meeting in the regional government on January 26.

According to the temporary scheme, the restoration work may take from one day. Currently, all residential buildings and social facilities in Murmansk are provided with heat and water. This was announced on January 26 by the head of the region. At the same time, the deadlines for resolving the situation will be determined tomorrow at an operational meeting.

What kind of assistance is organized for the residents of the region

The authorities of Murmansk and Severomorsk have introduced free public transport within and between cities. The measure will remain in effect until the power supply is fully restored. In addition, food delivery points and field kitchens are organized in the region.

North Sea entrepreneurs also expressed their willingness to support residents temporarily left without electricity. A number of retail and public outlets provided the opportunity to charge mobile devices, use hot water, warm up food and get hot drinks. In some establishments, residents can purchase lunches at cost. Aid stations operate in different areas of the city and will be open until evening or late at night, depending on the location.

Food delivery for residents is also organized. Volunteers deliver hot meals mainly to families with children, the elderly and people with disabilities. For help, you can contact the United Russia Public Support headquarters at 0051 or 8-800-444-00-51, extension 2, toll-free.

The work of schools and kindergartens in the region

In the Murmansk region, some educational institutions have switched to online learning or temporarily closed. So, on January 26, students of the Murmansk Industrial College study remotely, the Murmansk news agency reports "СеверПост.ги ".

If the school or kindergarten is closed, the child can attend temporary groups in working institutions. For parents who cannot take their children to educational institutions, entrepreneurs have organized free access to private playrooms and facilities for preschoolers and elementary school students.

Information about the work of colleges, technical schools and institutions of additional education can be found on the VKontakte page of the Ministry of Education of the Murmansk region, on the work of kindergartens and schools — on the pages of the heads of Murmansk and Severomorsk.

In Murmansk, as of January 26, parents can contact the education committee of the city administration to clarify the schedule of educational institutions or to identify a child in kindergarten or school. Even if the school or kindergarten is open according to the usual schedule, parents can decide for themselves whether to send their child to classes.

Kindergartens in Severomorsk are operating normally on January 26. Students in grades 1-8 attend schools full-time, while children from homes without power supply can stay for extended periods. Students in grades 9-11 study remotely, and free lunch is provided at schools for the privileged categories and children from homes without electricity.