All news

Minister, Tuva head discuss measures to liquidate quake aftermath

The minister stressed that it is necessary to restore the damaged facilities before New Year holidays

GORNO-ALTAISK, December 29 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Minister for Regional Development Viktor Basargin has discussed with Tuva authorities on Thursday measures to liquidate the aftermath of a strong quake that hit Tuva overnight to Wednesday. The minister arrived in Kyzyl from Vladikavkaz on Wednesday night.

After Basargin familiarizes himself with the state of vital facilities in the region, measures will be taken to offer government aid to the republic, the press service of the Tuva government told Tass.

“The situation in Tuva is rather difficult. The city does not sleep, people are anxious. The work of psychological services with the population must be ensured to remove this tension,” Basargin noted. The minister stressed that it is necessary to restore the damaged facilities before New Year holidays.

The head of the region, Sholban Kara-ool, for his part, drew the minister’s attention to the problem of dilapidated buildings, asking Basargin to support the region with funds within the framework of the Seismicity program. According to Sholban Kara-ool, 736 people have been resettled, and 363 more must promptly get new apartments.

He also said that as a result of the quake, cracks have been found in some joints of panel buildings and in the brick setting of the turbine department of the Kyzyl thermal power plant. The power plant is a vitally important facility for the region and has been in need of renovation for a long time.

The bridge across the Yenisei River, connecting Kyzyl with its left-bank neighborhood also causes concerns. “The bridge has become dangerous after the quake,” Kara-ool said. “We will have to begin capital repairs of the facility, and for this 72 million rubles will be needed,” he added.

Participants in the meeting also discussed the situation in Tuva’s hard-of-access regions as well as in the city of Kyzyl.