In South Ossetia, an avalanche covered a military post in the Roki tunnel. At that moment, there were five Russian servicemen. Two of them died as a result of the avalanche. Another of them has not yet been found; both Russian forces and the rescuers of South Ossetia are involved in the search. The Roki Tunnel belongs to the Transcaucasian Highway (Transkam). This federal highway passes through the Main Caucasian ridge and is the only year-round communication route between Russia and South Ossetia.
The last days in the mountains of the region it has been snowing without interruption. “The snowfall in the mountains has been going on for the third day already,” the Ministry of Emergency Situations of South Ossetia noted on 20 December.
On the night of December 20, avalanches hit the North Ossetian section of the Transkam. Fearing new cases, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of North Ossetia in the morning of December 20 closed the movement of all types of transport on the site near the settlement of Buron - the northern portal of the Roksky tunnel.
The Russian military post, which was hit by an avalanche on December 21, is located on the side of the southern portal of the tunnel. The deputy head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in South Ossetia Atsamaz Bestauty reported about an avalanche at about seven in the evening Moscow time. “The Emergency Situations Ministry's brigade went to the scene, but so far no information has been received from them,” he said then.
Two hours later, it became known that five Russian soldiers had been hit by an avalanche. They guarded the tunnel, the guardhouse of their post was covered with snow.
Two people were saved. They were taken to the republican hospital in Tskhinvali. The Ministry of Health of South Ossetia clarified that they are in a state of moderate severity, the victims have frostbite limbs. At the same time, the press service of the Russian Southern Military District noted that the servicemen received only minor injuries.
Later, a third soldier was taken out from under the snow; he was also alive. “He is in serious condition, was under an avalanche for almost five hours. Appropriate medical assistance is being provided to him, ”Bestouts pointed out.
However, in the end, it was not possible to save this military man; he died on the way to the hospital. “They didn't take me to the hospital,” the Ministry of Health of the Transcaucasian republic noted.
The fourth soldier died during an avalanche. "[He] was found with no signs of life," the South Ossetian Emergencies Ministry said.
Thus, while the fate of four out of five servicemen is known, the death toll has reached two.
The fate of the last soldier remains unknown. At the time of this writing, rescuers continued to search for him.
President of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov was informed about the incident. His administration reported that local rescuers are working together with their Russian colleagues. "Bibilov is promptly reported on the situation," the administration added.
Russian servicemen of the Southern Military District were involved in the search. They are assisted by the forces of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of South Ossetia in the amount of 20 people. Two units of special equipment are involved.
bbabo.Net