Bodaibo Lays New Water Pipeline as Homes Remain Without Heat
Governor Igor Kobzev provided an update on the response to the utility failure in Bodaibo.
In Bodaibo, where the consequences of a major utility accident are being addressed for the sixth consecutive day, a new water pipeline laid on the surface is ready. This was reported by Mayor Yevgeny Yumashev, and his comment was published on the Telegram channel of Irkutsk Oblast Governor Igor Kobzev.
Mayor Yevgeny Yumashev commented on the progress of repair work in the affected area.
The main boiler house of BMK is currently in hot mode, and the entire issue is with the communications to the houses.
«Sixty meters of pipe have frozen on the networks. If they are not thawed and the ice plug is not melted, there will be no point in starting hot water. Workers are now solving this problem on an operational basis,» noted the head of the region.
Another heat source—the LZDT boiler house—is supplying heat to nearby facilities.
«Specialists are connecting residential buildings at Sadovaya, 5b and 5v, to heat. There are also problems there; heating transformers are being used to thaw the supply mains. We plan to supply water today,» noted Yevgeny Yumashev.
He added that today, a comfortable temperature for conducting work has been established—about -23°C (-9°F). Equipment has been prepared to pour hot water into the cold water supply pipes.
«But I want to say again, heat sources are being prepared to receive cold water. If the heat sources are not ready, there is no point in this work,» commented Yumashev.
Preparatory work for launching the temporary water pipeline is being carried out by the forces and means of MUP «Teplovodokanal», AO «Vysochayshiy», ZDK «Lenzoloto» of the «OKTO» group, LLC «Gazprom Dobycha Irkutsk», and management companies of Irkutsk. Also, by the efforts of Irkutsk utility workers, an inspection of intra-house networks and work to prepare houses is being conducted.
The administration of Bodaibo previously stated that compensation will be paid to those affected. 1,018 people have already applied, all of whom provided supporting documents that give the right to transfer. Payments should start coming to their accounts from 5 February.
Problems with heating and hot water have been observed in Bodaibo for the sixth day. The central water supply has frozen, leaving more than 1,300 people without heat. Governor Igor Kobzev called the situation in the city critical, sent his first deputy Roman Kolesov and Minister of Housing Policy and Energy Anatoly Nikitin there. In the city, a state of emergency has been in effect since 31 January.
Bodaibo residents told how they survive in their homes without heating in -40°C (-40°F) frosts. Some apartments have already thawed out. Moreover, city residents united and created a mutual aid chat: they deliver food, water, and heaters to each other. The mayor of Bodaibo asked for federal money to relocate emergency houses, which fell into the emergency zone.
All news related to the utility accident in Bodaibo, we are collecting in a separate story.
