Snowfalls and strong winds have caused new power outages in the Moscow Region, with the authorities introducing "an emergency situation regime" in 18 districts and four towns.
Massive blackouts began in the region on December 26 after an ice storm. Freezing rain, snow and the resulting sticky ice adhered to power transmission lines, wires and trees, breaking them and disrupting power supplies.
Although the freezing rain lasted for just two days in late December, the unusual weather, which made hundreds of people around Moscow celebrate New Year's Day in darkness, is still taking its toll.
Electricity supplies to most towns and villages in the Moscow Region were restored on January 1, but heavy snow and gales triggered new blackouts around the Russian capital.
As of Sunday morning, 88 towns and villages faced power outages, energy officials reported. On Sunday evening, 10% of transformer substations were still unplugged.
Repair brigades are working round the clock to restore electricity supplies to blacked-out districts.
Last time, "an emergency situation regime" was introduced in the Moscow Region in the summer of 2010 when an enormous heat wave in Central Russia caused massive wildfires.
MOSCOW, January 3 (RIA Novosti)
