30 avalanches block Russia-South Ossetia road

"Traffic on the highway has been suspended due to heavy snowfalls changing with thawing weathers," Yulia Starchenko said, adding that such weather guarantee avalanches and the road had already been closed for over a day.

Electricity supplies from Russia to South Ossetia were also cut due to the heavy snowfalls and avalanches, which are believed to have brought down power lines.

She said that all maintenance crews responsible for the highway were working in emergency mode, so the road's operation depends only on weather conditions.

Snow interchanging with rain made the work of emergency and highway crews and rescuers more difficult due to a lack of visibility.

Local weather forecasts predict more snow in the next 48 hours and an increased likelihood of avalanches in the area, but Starchenko said conditions could be improving; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version.