In Artyk 11 houses left with disrupted heating supply

Emergency-repair operations are coming to an end in Markha, near Yakutsk. Specialists are yet to restore central heating at two apartment houses with a total of 56 tenants, including 12 children, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry’s main department for the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) told Itar-Tass on Friday.

The air temperatures in Yakutsk are currently at 31 degrees Celsius below zero.

Newly laid heating supply networks have been put into operation in the Artyk settlement of the Oimyakon district. The local boiler house is working in the normal regime. Specialists are trying in an accelerated regime to repair and replace central heating systems in houses.

There are now 11 houses with disrupted heating supply in the settlement with a population of 128. The air temperatures in the settlement are 54 degrees Celsius below zero. A total of 16 brigades comprising over 60 specialists are engaged in the emergency-repair efforts. However, they are yet to perform a large amount of work and it will take several more days to totally restore the local central heating systems.

The heat supply mains, bringing heat to a large residential area in the Markh suburb of Yakutsk, was damaged on December 28, when the pipeline was rammed by a heavy truck, loaded with coal. A state of emergency was clamped down on Yakutsk.

A new suspension pipeline is being built instead of the old one which was laid down underground and which is frozen up as a result of a breakdown.

Specialists of the emergency service said earlier that heat will be supplied to all heatless houses in Artyk around January 9-10. The population were supplied with special ovens, permitting to maintain warmth at houses.

// Jan. 4, 2008

Reported by ITAR-TASS