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EMERCOM to use aviation for traffic control in icy weather

Helicopters will be used to monitor the situation at highways in the Central Federal District
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, February 9 (Itar-Tass) – Russia’s Ministry for overcoming emergency situations /EMERCOM/ plans to use aviation for traffic control at highways covered with ice, the authority’s Information Department said on Saturday.

Helicopters will be used to monitor the situation at highways in the Central Federal District.

“Due to the unfavourable weather conditions and the ice on the roads in the Central Federal District, we plan aviation monitoring of the federal highways,” the source said.

Earlier on Saturday, the ministry published a warning about possible traffic accidents due to the icy roads in eight regions of the Central, Southern and North-Eastern districts, and in Moscow.

“In the Bryansk, Kursk, Smolensk, Moscow, Tula regions, in Moscow, Kalmykia, in the Volgograd and Leningrad regions the situation is unfavourable: there is ice on the roads, trees and electricity lines. The current situation may cause termination of electricity supplies and growth of traffic accidents,” the Information Department’s Deputy Head Elena Smirnykh said.

“EMERCOM asks everyone to be attentive and cautious, to refrain from driving personal vehicles and to observe the speed limits,” she said.