Pedestrians Hit by Icicles in Russia
49cm 'Snow Bomb' Hits Moscow in One Day
In Russia, there have been numerous cases of pedestrians being killed or injured by falling icicles. This is because, as the Ukraine war drags on, local councils have run out of cash and can no longer afford snow removal costs.
On the 20th (local time), British media outlet Mirror and other foreign media reported that on the 18th, a man in his 30s walking in Saint Petersburg was struck on the head by an icicle falling from a seventh-floor balcony and died. The man was on his way shopping when the incident occurred. In Chelyabinsk, an icicle struck a woman’s head, resulting in her death. Pedestrians witnessed the incident but were reportedly too afraid to approach the woman closely for fear that another icicle might fall. Additionally, there was an accident where an icicle fell onto a stroller, seriously injuring a 2-year-old boy inside.
Some suggest that Russia has abandoned snow removal efforts due to the Ukraine war. The media stated, "In the past, costs were paid to clear snow accumulated on building rooftops to prevent such accidents." They added, "Russian local governments have almost given up on snow removal because of the Ukraine war," and "It has become even more difficult to prevent accidents as housing management staff have been mobilized for the war."
Meanwhile, Russia is experiencing unprecedented heavy snowfall and severe cold. In the capital, Moscow, 49 cm of snow fell in one day on the 15th due to a snowstorm. This is a new record, surpassing the previous highest snowfall of 32 cm in 1919. On social media, images have surfaced showing vehicles buried in snow and ambulances stranded, unable to move on snowy roads. About 40 flights at Moscow airports were delayed or canceled due to this heavy snowfall.
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