MOSCOW (Shahid Ghuman) – Two men were killed and several others injured in a severe snowstorm that brought life in Russia’s eastern region of Kamchatka to a standstill on Tuesday.
Continuous and unprecedented snowfall for the last two days has buried the entire peninsula under more than two to four meters of snow. According to meteorological authorities, this snowfall has proven to be the most intense not only in recent years but in the past 60 years, paralyzing infrastructure. Some weather centers have even described the storm as extraordinary when viewed against nearly 140 years of snowfall data.
The men were killed when massive amounts of snow accumulated on rooftops suddenly collapsed onto them, while several others were injured. Many residents have been trapped inside their homes, and videos from some areas show people digging tunnels through the snow to get out of their houses. Roads, parking areas, buildings, and vehicles have completely disappeared under snow. Despite the use of heavy machinery, snow-clearing operations are progressing far more slowly than usual.
The weather crisis has brought both air and ground transportation to a standstill. Flights have been cancelled, highways are closed, and public transport is completely suspended. Government offices have shifted to online operations, while educational institutions and business centers remain closed. Disruptions to supply chains have severely affected the availability of basic necessities such as food and medicines. Reports indicate that some shops have run out of essential goods entirely, with residents standing in long queues. Fuel supplies are also under strain.
According to authorities, the storm was the result of a low-pressure weather system that formed over the Sea of Okhotsk and caused uninterrupted snowfall for several days. Municipal workers, rescue units, snow-removal teams, and military engineering units are all involved in restoring roads, delivering emergency supplies, and evacuating residents. The administration has urged citizens to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, keep their mobile phones charged, and maintain essential supplies.
Although the active phase of the storm has ended, the sheer volume of snow and low temperatures have made cleaning efforts extremely difficult. Local sources say it will take several days at a minimum — and possibly a week or more — for the region to return fully to normal.