Avalanches feared as blizzards hit Far East

31 Dec, 2007 12:40 / Updated 16 years ago

Heavy snow storms and gales are sweeping through Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. The blizzards are giving thousands of residents in the Far East their first taste of severe winter weather this year. Authorities have issued a storm alert, fearing further sn

In some areas, the wind speed has reached 45 metres per second.     Forecasters are predicting the storm will get worse in the course of Monday.  But conditions are expected to improve with the start of the New Year.   Earlier, strong winds and heavy snow ripped through the Khabarovsk Region and Sakhalin Island, causing widespread electricity blackouts.