Trans-caucasian Mainline To Be Closed Because Of Avalanches

The trans-Caucasus mainline has been closed because of forecast avalanches. This information was disclosed by Rosgidromet (the Russian weather forecast centre) on Friday. Experts believe that the situation in the region where the mainline runs is extremely dangerous. It has worsened following heavy snowfalls of the first days of the new year. Rosgidromet officials added that anti-avalanche services worked around the clock during the holidays. Accordingly, it has initiated 23 avalanches in the last two days of 2001. On January 3, the service identified 15 potential avalanche sites and initiated 9 slides. As a result, traffic on the highway linking the cities of Adler and Krasnya Polyana was resumed in the early hours of Friday. The road had been previously closed because of avalanche-dangerous situation. Experts' efforts prevented human casualties and considerable damage to the structure, Rosgidromet reported.