A snow avalanche rolled onto the road near Yasnomorskoye, a village in the southern part of Sakhalin Island. There were no injuries reported, though the snow mass nearly buried the traffic police team from REN TV. The officers’ vehicles were revealed only down to their wheels as the massive load pressed in from above. Emergency crews brought in specialized equipment, and responders focused on clearing the roadway and stabilizing the scene to restore safe passage for travelers and prevent secondary incidents amid the ongoing winter conditions.
Local authorities from the regional department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs explained that police units from the Nevelsk city district were conducting routine checks on the Nevelsk-Kholmsk route when the avalanche began to form. Observing that no other vehicles had been swept away by the slide, the officers promptly reported the snowfall and the evolving hazard to district administrators, enabling a coordinated response and faster mobilization of resources to secure the area and guide traffic away from danger.
In the broader context, a powerful hurricane-like storm system swept through Sakhalin, triggering a regional state of emergency. The south of the island saw multiple road closures on segments of the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk-Okha federal highway, interrupting bus services and forcing the temporary shutdown of the local airport. Public transportation effectively halted, trains were canceled, and the Kholmsk-Vanino ferry link to the mainland ceased operations since Monday. Since then, school districts shifted to remote learning as a precautionary measure to ensure student safety during the severe weather spell.
Forecasts from the Sakhalin department of Roshydromet indicated only a gradual improvement in conditions, with meaningful relief expected to arrive by the weekend. Residents should prepare for continuing disruptions and heed official advisories regarding travel restrictions, snowfall intensity, and the potential for further avalanches in exposed mountainous and coastal zones.
Earlier, a resident of Sakhalin described a brave moment of self-help, detailing how someone dug a tunnel through the snow to reach the outdoors and access essential shelter. This anecdote underscores the pervasive challenges posed by heavy snow cover and the resilience shown by locals as they navigate the aftermath of storms that can rapidly block roads, close facilities, and limit mobility across the island.