BodaiBo utility accident victims to receive compensation

The administration of BodaiBo and the BodaiBo district has decided to provide material assistance to all those affected by the utility accident that led to the cutoff of heat and water. This was stated by Mayor Yevgeny Yumashev, and his words are cited in the Telegram channel of Irkutsk Oblast Governor Igor Kobzev.

«The list of houses will be published additionally. But for those houses that today remain without heating, residents officially registered in these premises can count on 15,000 rubles ($167) per person,» said Yumashev.

He added that regulatory documents will be prepared in the near future, after which payments will be made.

BodaiBo (Irkutsk Oblast, Russia) has already been experiencing heating and hot water problems for the fourth day. The central water pipeline has frozen, leaving more than 1,300 people without heat. Governor Igor Kobzev called the situation in the city «critical,» sending his first deputy Roman Kolesov and Minister of Housing Policy and Energy Anatoly Nikitin there. A state of emergency has been in effect in the city since January 31.

Residents of BodaiBo told how they survive in their homes without heating in -40°C (-40°F) frosts. In addition, city residents have united and created a mutual aid chat: they deliver food, water, and heaters to each other. On the afternoon of January 31, EMERCOM head Vyacheslav Fedoseyenko flew to BodaiBo to personally monitor the situation.

Yevgeny Yumashev asked residents whose homes are without central heating to move in with relatives or to temporary accommodation points. The mayor of BodaiBo also told when heating is planned to be restored in the city. Employees of Irkutsk management companies have flown to help. Resources are also being provided by AO Vysotaishiy, ZTK Lenzoloto, PAO Gazprom Dobycha Irkutsk, and the airline IrAero, which ensures the delivery of people and goods.

In the city, a ground water pipeline is already being laid.