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Strong cyclone may impede operation at oil rig wreck site

Heavy snowfalls and high winds of up to 30 meters per second are expected in the region on December 22 and 23

VLADIVOSTOK, December 21 (Itar-Tass) — A storm warning has been issued in Russia’s Primorye, where a strong cyclone is approaching. This may impede the search-and-rescue operation in the Sea of Okhotsk, at the site where the Kolskaya oil rig went down on Sunday.

Heavy snowfalls and high winds of up to 30 meters per second are expected in the region on December 22 and 23, the press service of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations’ regional department reports.

A strong storm is expected in Sakhalin as well. Waves over four meters high and winds up to 25 meters per second are expected in the Sea of Okhotsk.

This may impede the search operation. At the present moment, the Magadan icebreaker of the Far Eastern steamship line, the Atlas ship of the Sakhalin emergency and rescue department, a Mi-8 helicopter of Sakhalin’s Aviashelf company and an Il-38 plane of the Pacific Fleet continue the search operation at the site.

According to the Vladivostok maritime rescue coordination centre, all vessels sailing through the central part of the Sea of Okhotsk also take part in search efforts.

Thirty-nine people are still missing after the accident on December 18. There were 67 people on board the oil rig that capsized amid a storm with high winds. Fourteen people were rescued, and 14 dead bodies have been found.

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