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Winter Ice Downs Power, Closes Moscow Airport

   VOA News 26 December 2010
   People  walk  through an ice-covered Kolomenskoe park on the outskirts
   of Moscow, 26 Dec 2010

Photo: AP

   People  walk  through an ice-covered Kolomenskoe park on the outskirts
   of Moscow, 26 Dec 2010

   Icy  rain and snow brought down a major power line in Moscow, shutting
   down the city's main airport and snarling traffic on its busy streets.
   Officials said on Sunday that flights from the Domodedovo airport were
   suspended  for  almost 15 hours until the power was partially restored
   and some planes were allowed to take off.
   Flights  from  Moscow's  second airport, Sheremetyevo, were operating,
   but travelers experienced delays.
   Roughly  200,000  people  were left without power as ice snapped power
   lines and slicked over the capital's streets and encased cars.
   According  to  Russia's  state-owned   news agency, Ria Novosti, some
   6,000  passengers were stranded at Domodedovo, and taxis were charging
   more than $300 to take clients to the airport.
   Officials warned residents to stay home until conditions improved.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP.

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