Altai republic hit by underground element

Road traffic has been restored and emergency repair works launched in the systems of communication, and water and power supplies in the earthquake-hit regions of the Altai Republic, a Russian Federation constituent member, located at the junction of the Russian, Kazakh and Chinese borders, spokespersons for the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reported.

A number of regions of the area concerned in the Sayan Mountains spurs have suffered as a result of last Saturday's earthquake estimated at 8-9 on the Richter scale. The Beltir settlement in the Kosh-Agach district was hit worst, with 99 houses destroyed, and 161 houses and a number of administrative buildings badly damaged. 160 children were evacuated from the settlement to the regional centre. Altogether, life support for 1,800 people was interrupted and 860 houses sustained heavy and medium damage.

In the Ulagansky region, cracks in the walls and peeling off plaster were observed in 526 houses and a school, telephone connection was disrupted.

In Shebalinsky and Ongudaisky regions supply systems were intact, with seven schools, four hospitals and five social-and-cultural buildings were damaged.