A major snowstorm has battered Russia's Pacific island of Sakhalin since New Year's Eve, stranding almost 60 cars on the main highway, an emergencies official said on Saturday.

"Currently, 56 vehicles are imprisoned by the snow on the highway near the village of Vostochnoye [in Skhalin's central Makarovsky district]. Fourteen women and children have been rescued from them," a spokeswoman for the head of the regional Emergency Situations Ministry told RIA Novosti.

"Emergency Situations Ministry staff delivered food and fuel to the car owners. Food stocks in the village of Vostochnoye are sufficient for seven days," she said, adding that accommodation had been provided at a local school and a small barbecue joint was laying on food.

The storm system struck the island on Thursday, with the heaviest snowfall occurring on Friday. More than 30 specialist vehicles were being used to clear the snow, but were only able to advance about 5 kilometers (3 miles) an hour.

The snow also blocked a rail line, with an avalanche engulfing a diesel locomotive and snowplow. Two railroad workers were missing, with rescuers forced to work carefully due to the threat of further avalanches.

More than 300 rail workers, along with as many as 200 soldiers, were working to clear the line and restore rail service.

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, January 2 (RIA Novosti)