MOSCOW, January 30. /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations has brought the situation in 19 regions, where a spell of heavy frost and snowfalls set in, under control, said Head of the national Center for managing crisis situations under the Ministry for Emergency Situations Viktor Yatsutsenko. "The weather forecast remains unfavorable," he stressed.

Heavy snowfalls and a spell of severe frost have created a problematic situation in 19 regions, including the Russian Far East, the Urals, Russia's Center and the South and the North Caucasus Federal Districts, he said. A system of anti-crisis management has been employed, and anti-crisis headquarters have been established on the problem territories, Yatsutsenko said at an Intercom conference conducted by the Russian Minister for Emergency Situations Vladimir Puchkov on Thursday.

More than 80 emergency groups have been operating in regions to coordinate the emergency forces and their activities, collect information and inspect socially important facilities, Yatsutsenko said.

Vladimir Puchkov instructed the emergency services to establish order on federal motorways."If one needs help of the Emergency Ministry I expect them to apply within 30 minutes. We will give the assistance promptly," Puchkov said.

On Thursday the administration of the Rostov region declared an emergency regime in the Rostov region because of a heavy snowfall and low air temperatures. Deputy Governor of the Rostov Region Sergei Gorban said snowfalls had worsened and the wind force had grown to 20 meters per second amid low air temperatures dropping to 20 degrees Celsius below zero point in the Rostov-on-Don region and even to minus 30 degrees in the north and east of the region.