Ice catastrophe in North Ossetia is being investigated by meteorologists

The meteorologist examination of the ice catastrophe region in the mountains of North Ossetia /a Russian republic/ on the 21st-22nd September showed that blocking the river-beds of the Genaldon river, up Nizhny Karmadon village, and of the Kariudon river, down Gornaya Saniba village, had resulted in two ponds, accumulating water. When these ponds had been filled and burst near Nizhny Karmadon village on the 22nd of September in the afternoon, the water ran over to the lower pond, increasing its water level by more than two meters, which led to a little flood in Gornaya Saniba village. A daily water level fluctuation amplitude in the Gizeldon river did not exceed ten centimeters, said the Russian federal Service on Hydrometeorology and Environment Monitoring.

On the 23rd-25th of September the continuous warm weather /air temperature in the mountains during the day time equals 18-20 degrees/, intensive ice melting and damming of the Genaldon, Kariudon and Gizeldon rivers in the catastrophe region are expected to lift the water level till unfavorable and dangerous marks. Moreover, if the pond burst, carrying the mud-and-stone flow, it will flood Gizel, Arkhonskoye and Michurino villages.

Russian Hydrometeorology Service is observing the Kolka and Maili glaciers in this region. The Maili glacier was last examined in 2002, Kolka in 2000. Since 1969 Maili has been steadily receding while Kolka has remained stable since 1995. Hanging glaciers have remained stable, with insignificant ice-slides, usual for this type of glaciers, happening occasionally.