OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Russian Federation - Avalanche
27 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.  According to the head of the geological service of the North Ossetian
department of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation,
the possibility of sliding down of the remaining part of Kolka glacier,
which is now hanging at the angle of 70 degrees, as well as of flooding of
Gornaya Sangiba village, is minimal. Nevertheless, additional monitoring
posts have been set up in the area to watch the local rivers and ponds,
which have formed as a result of the avalanche. The vertical movement of
the avalanche, which is melting intensively, is also being closely
watched. The collapsing glacier dropped an estimated 22 million tons of
ice down a mountainside near the border with Georgia. The water levels in
the vicinity of Gornaya Sangiba and Gizel villages are constantly
measured, and they have not changed much. A series of directed explosions
to release the water accumulated in the upper part of the avalanche has
been as yet unsuccessful but efforts in this domain will continue.

2.  The Minister of EMERCOM, Sergei Shoigu, who went to North Ossetia on
President Putin's request on 24 September for one day to evaluate the
situation and to streamline rescue operations said, that according to
indications, one of the reasons for the glacier's slide might be volcanic
activity.


Response

3.  The rescue operations in the Karmadon gorge have continued. According
to EMERCOM of Russia, to date 12 people have been found dead, 27 people
have been rescued, and 99 are missing, including a film crew and 20
employees of North Ossetian parliament's staff and administration. The
rescue operations involve 493 people, 106 units of machinery, 3
helicopters, and 8 search dogs.

4.  To date the road maintenance workers, who are clearing out the
congestions of ice, mud and rock in the vicinity of Gizel village, managed
to move 3 km forward, but they still have to clear out 1,5 km of the road
to restore communication between the Kobanski gorge and Vladikavkaz (the
capital of North Ossetia).

5.  A further offer of international assistance has been made by
Switzerland. Russian authorities have indicated that the situation is
under control.

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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