State of Emergency in Bodaybo as Residents Freeze in Homes

A state of emergency has been introduced in Bodaybo (in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia) due to a utility accident that left part of the city without heating and water. By the morning of January 31, the situation had not significantly improved, with water still unavailable and cleanup efforts ongoing. This was reported to an IrCity journalist by the mayor of the city and Bodaybinsky District, Yevgeny Yumashev.

According to him, a meeting of the KChS (Commission for Emergency Situations) was held this morning, after which a state of emergency was introduced in the Bodaybinsky Municipal Formation from 10 a.m. on January 31.

In a conversation with an IrCity journalist, Yevgeny Yumashev noted that a decision has been made to lay a new temporary water pipeline on the surface. However, it is still unknown how quickly it can be done.

«It«s still -41°C (-42°F) outside, everything is stable. I don»t have an understanding yet of the timeline for laying the water pipeline. There are many factors: the availability of materials, the availability of people, and most importantly — the length of this project. We need to lay pipes for about 500 meters,» Yevgeny Yumashev reported.

The mayor reported that temporary accommodation points and hot meal stations have been set up in the city, but people are «sitting at home with electric heaters.» Drinking water is being delivered to homes by volunteers, and city water trucks are serving the private sector, because due to the accident, water hadn«t been delivered there for about two days.

«The water trucks were working on eliminating the accident and, roughly speaking, dropped out for two days. People in the private sector were without water, now we have restored the delivery,» Yumashev said.

The mayor of Bodaybo called the accident that occurred force majeure circumstances, which it was impossible to prepare for.

«This is after all force majeure, not some negligence. Simply this year the winter is very cold, -45°C (-49°F) has been standing for more than a month. Just all the ground froze so that, unfortunately, it cut off the central water pipeline. This is all, of course, a problem, but not negligence or oversight. There is a problem, we will solve it. And where can we go?» Yevgeny Yumashev noted.

Meanwhile, a local resident named Yulianna contacted the IrCity editorial office. She described what the situation is like in her home now and how she is surviving in these frosts.

«At home it«s now +9°C (48°F) with heaters. Outside it»s cold, and the power is turned off for short intervals, then turned back on. Nizhnyaya Sadovaya is without power, people have neither heating nor electricity. Kind people bring water and hot food to those who have no power. This is horrible,» Yulianna told us.

The girl also reported that she had to send her child to her brother, who has warmth in his apartment, and she herself stayed home with the cat. Besides, her grandmother and grandfather live nearby, and Yulianna has to look after them as well.

«So I run back and forth, to help them and not let my own house freeze. We are freezing in our own homes. I wrote about this in the governor«s chat, but only got formal replies. I already don»t know how we will survive,» the interviewee admitted.

Now she even has to wear several layers of clothing and even winter shoes at home, and at night she and the cat sleep under three blankets, otherwise they could freeze completely.

In the local Telegram channel «BS | Bodaybo City», people are also complaining about the cold in their homes. Some say that they have problems even with delivered water.

«They promised delivery at 10:00, but where to pour it? We have no container for this. It became cold even with heaters…» writes Yelena Drozdova.

Another Yelena notes that yesterday they still had some water, but by evening nothing was running.

«My house is connected to the branch that froze over. Somehow or other, but water was running yesterday. I came from work, stocked up on water for needs. I was ready to help those in need, but at 22:30 the water ran out for us too,» the woman reports.

«A harsh test of our city«s survival reserves,» comments Igor Zhzhenykh.

Recall that in Bodaybo, problems with heating and hot water have been observed for the third day already. The central water pipeline froze, 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.