AJ
Belgorod’s energy facilities have been critically damaged, reported Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, while water was also being drained from the heating system.
Authorities of the region are taking emergency measures following the damage to the energy facilities, while Gladkov noted that the water would be drained from the heating systems of 455 multi-apartment buildings.
Preparations have also been announced for the evacuation of certain categories of residents to other regions, including large families, families with disabled children, and single pensioners.
Last night, Belgorod power engineers had to manually push cars away from electric generators in courtyards because the owners didn’t respond to calls.
“Do not leave cars on driveways or near RISEs! Do not create obstacles to the movement of transport that services and refuels generators,” stated Belgorod Mayor Valentin Demidov.
Energy workers failed to restore supply by the deadline, with Gladlov reporting: “The actions that our energy and heat workers have been taking over the past two days have not yet led to the long-awaited result.
“We have restored gas supply, we are restoring it, we have 500 consumers left for electricity supply in homes, we have solved the problems with the water supply and cold water drainage, but we have problems with heating, due to the large fire impact on our energy facilities yesterday, as well as in the previous months.”
According to Gladkov, not only had heating systems started draining for 455 multi-apartment buildings, but also 25 kindergartens, 17 schools, nine polyclinics, four universities, and other social features or commercial enterprises that remain without heat.
“Restoration work is continuing, as it progresses, when we see that the thermal power station will be ready to supply heat, we will fill the heating system and supply the carriers to the residential buildings, social facilities, and commercial buildings.
If we do not do this, the damage or harm will be practically catastrophic for every resident who lives in this part of the city,” said the Governor.
Due to the lack of heating, several kindergartens, universities and colleges in the region were switching to remote learning, as Gladkov didn’t want more complaints of children studying in cold classrooms, wearing jackets for warmth while studying.
WATER ISSUES:
100,000 people were left without water after the pumps shut down because of a power outage, according to Mayor Demidov, noting that residents of multiple districts were left without water.
During an operational meeting of the regional government, Demidov reported that the water supply had already been restored to 15,000 Belgorod residents, another 55,000 people would receive a supply within the hour, and the remaining 30,000 residents would get a supply within 3 hours.
In addition, authorities were organising the delivery of drinking water to several outlets so that residents could obtain water while waiting for the supplies to be restored.
Housing and Utilities Minister Alexei Botviniev told the meeting that 31 houses hadn’t been connected to a heating supply due to restoration work for more than a day and a half, causing kindergartens and a gymnasium in the districts to close for the day.
Gladkov stated that heating points would continue to operate for residents, while starting tomorrow, the authorities intended to “make decisions” on the further format of their operation.
Another development into the situation came from the Deputy Governor for Housing and Communal Services Sergey Dovgalyuk, who noted that 707 multi-apartment buildings in the Belgorod region were left without heat due to the critical damage that put the Belgorod Thermal Power Plant out of action.
RELOCATION TO KURSK:
Kursk Governor Alexander Khinstein said today that they were preparing emergency shelters for residents of the Belgorod region so that the residents could evacuate if necessary because of the blackouts.
During a meeting of the Kursk Regional Government, Khinshtein instructed the Head of the region’s Security Committee Oleg Goryachev to prepare emergency shelters.
“We will have to accept residents of the Belgorod region if necessary, if such a need suddenly arises, and accommodate them in our emergency shelters,” Khinshtein noted: “We are in contact with Vyacheslav Vladimirovich Gladkov, so if a need arises, we should provide such an opportunity on our part.
“It’s clear, from the point of view of common sense, that people should probably be transported to those regions where there is no emergency situation, of course, we will always come to the rescue of our brothers and neighbours,” Khinshtein said.
CHILDREN TO BE MOVED FROM BELGOROD?
Not only did Gladkov report that heating points had been switched to 24-hour operation, the Governor also stated that children could be left with the authorities, and schoolchildren could be sent to neighbouring regions if residents applied for the process.
“Dear friends, if you are ready to leave your children with us, we will take your responsibility for their stay – you need to call the Belgorod City Administration or your kindergarten supervisor, where you go, leave your contacts, and we will start this work from today.
“If you have school-age children: you leave, as in 2024-2025, your applications with the Belgorod City Administration, and we send the children to other regions – to places that are already familiar, such as the Republic of Crimea, as well as other nearby regions, and we are currently discussing this with the governors,” reported Gladkov.
