More than 500 people involved in rescue operations in the Northern Osetia

More than 500 people are involved in the rescue operations on the site of mudslides near the village of Karmadon in the North Osetia (the Russian autonomous republic in the North Caucasus). The information was received from the Press Secretary of the RF Ambassador Plenipotentiary to the Southern Federal District Arkady Murzaev.

According to Murzaev, 15 people have been evacuated from the disaster area. As a result of the mudslide caused by the down-slope movement of the "Kolka" glacier, 12 to 15 houses were buried under the debris. Approximately 30 people are missing.

Presently, the rescue workers from the Northern Osetia, from the neighboring republics of Ingushetia, Karachaevo-Cherkesia, Kabardino-Balkaria, and also from Stavropol region are taking part in the rescue operations at the site.

Murzaev also informed that the "Kolka" glacier started moving in 1969. The rate of descent was about several centimeters per year. In the last decade the movement has temporarily stopped and nobody expected that the glacier would start moving again at 21:30 yesterday.