4 Jan 2011

More power cuts around Moscow

7:36 am on 4 January 2011

Wintry weather in Russia has caused more power blackouts in the Moscow region, threatening further disruption at Domodedovo airport.

Airport operations there were seriously disrupted last week, with hundreds of flights cancelled and 8000 people stranded.

Although power was restored on Saturday, the Ria news agency says heavy snow and gales brought power cuts to dozens of nearby villages.

The BBC reports a special emergency unit has been sent to the airport in case the power fails.

On Sunday, Domodedovo was briefly forced to rely on a backup electricity substation, but the airport says it does not expect a repeat of the problems of recent days.

More than 5000 people are reported to be without power in the Tver region north-west of Moscow because of heavy snow.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled last week at Moscow's two international airports, Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo, when freezing rain showers brought down trees and power lines.