OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Russian Federation - Avalanche
23 September 2002


This report summarises information received from UN agencies,
representatives of government structures in North Ossetia-Alania, and the
Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and
Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (EMERCOM of Russia).

Situation

1.  On Friday, 20 September 2002 at 9 p.m. at approximately 15 kilometres
south of the village Karmadon in the southern Russian Republic of North
Ossetia-Alania, a large part of the glacier 'Kolka' broke off and crashed
down a mountainside. As a result, a mudslide 200 metres wide and 10 to 100
metres thick was generated over a length of 11 kilometres, coming to a
halt at about 7 kilometres south of the settlement of Gizel, thereby
blocking the Karmadon Gorge and raising the danger of flooding.

2.  Latest figures from EMERCOM and local government structures received
today indicate that some 95 people are missing, twenty-six people have
been rescued, and six people have been found dead on the site of the
avalanche.

3.  The mudslide destroyed several holiday resorts, sewage disposal
plants, water wells, and a power transmission line over a length of 1,5
kilometres. Approximately 15 houses have been covered by the ice mass.


National and International Response

4.  EMERCOM Russia announced that a team of 57 rescue workers and 4
trained dogs were flown into the disaster area from Moscow on Saturday
evening to assist their colleagues. Around 200 rescue workers from EMERCOM
North Ossetia-Alania and from corresponding structures in the neighbouring
republics of Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, and Karachaevo-Cherkessia, as
well as 94 vehicles, and 3 helicopters have been mobilised to take part in
the rescue operation. Up to this moment, the UN has not received any
formal request for international assistance by federal or local government
structures.

5.  In a letter to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Germany has
presented its condolences to the relatives of the victims of the disaster
in southern Russia, and has expressed its readiness to assist Russia in
any possible way. No other offers for international assistance have been
made to date.

6.  OCHA is in close contact with the Permanent Mission of the Russian
Federation in Geneva and the office of the UN Resident Co-ordinator in
Moscow and will revert with further information, as it becomes available.

7.  This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies
are also available on the OCHA Website at http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Mr. Dusan Zupka, Mr. Anvar Munavvarov
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1645 / 1669

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  (NYC)  Brian Grogan direct Tel. +1-212-963-1143


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