A traffic jam formed yesterday on the Teriberka to Murmansk highway after a minibus accident near the 8 kilometer mark. Multiple sources report that the congestion involved dozens of vehicles, with estimates ranging from twenty to forty cars stuck on the route.
At around 3 pm on Wednesday a convoy began moving from Teriberka, with officials noting a planned road closure to ensure safe passage for maintenance crews and road equipment. During the journey, the middle of the column saw a minibus veer off course and block the wider lane, trapping most of the following vehicles. Those at the front managed to advance briefly, but the rest were held back while assistance arrived. This account comes from a Ministry of Transport message posted on a social network.
The road was shut to traffic about an hour later as daylight faded and visibility dropped to zero. People stranded on the highway spent the night inside their cars, with some remaining stuck for more than a day, awaiting relief and a chance to continue their travels.
The ministry reported that the 40-vehicle convoy split into two groups following the incident. The first group of 12 reached the 81st kilometer, but snow caused the road to collapse into the land, forcing a halt. The second group stayed near the eight kilometer area near the village, awaiting further guidance and snow clearing operations.
At present the road remains closed while crews work to clear the snow. The ministry indicated that snow removal is particularly challenging due to tourist groups occupying sections of the lane, noting that road equipment was redirected to assist travelers in several parts of the route.
Efforts to provide relief included delivering fuel, food, and water to those stranded, and establishing a warming point for the evolving emergency situation. The route serves as the sole connection between Murmansk and Teriberka, a corridor that frequently encounters closures in extreme winter conditions accompanied by zero visibility.
Separately, Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that more than 100 people were evacuated from gridlock conditions. In total, over 30 vehicles remained immobilized on the highway as the response continued.
Conditions on the road
Eyewitnesses involved in the traffic standstill described ongoing rescue and support efforts. Helpers and volunteers distributed fuel and food to stranded drivers and passengers.
One participant recalled a moment shortly before a snow-induced halt when road equipment managed to clear a path, allowing a spontaneous convoy to form on the one open lane and progress toward Murmansk. Rescue teams and snow removal crews moved between Teriberka and the jammed vehicles, attempting to aid as many people as possible per hour while two snowmobiles delivered fuel and assisted small groups of travelers. The wait extended close to a full day for some, underscoring the severity of the weather and the demand for quick, coordinated action.
A second witness estimated that around 40 cars remained on the road, with volunteers distributing sandwiches to those in need. The block in the traffic flow was caused by the oncoming traffic toward Teriberka and by snowplows becoming stuck while trying to dig through drifts. Both sources confirmed distributions of food and fuel, though reports about water distribution varied and were less certain.
Reports from the scene highlighted that many travelers faced fuel shortages and deteriorating weather conditions, while the availability of water was not consistently reported during the relief efforts.