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Russia probes smelly orange snow | Russia probes smelly orange snow |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Russia has flown a team of chemical experts to a Siberian region to find out why smelly, coloured snow has been falling over several towns. | Russia has flown a team of chemical experts to a Siberian region to find out why smelly, coloured snow has been falling over several towns. |
Oily yellow and orange snowflakes fell over an area of more than 1,500sq km (570sq miles) in the Omsk region on Wednesday, Russian officials said. | Oily yellow and orange snowflakes fell over an area of more than 1,500sq km (570sq miles) in the Omsk region on Wednesday, Russian officials said. |
Chemical tests were under way to determine the cause, they said. | Chemical tests were under way to determine the cause, they said. |
Residents have been advised not to use the snow for household tasks or let animals graze on it. | Residents have been advised not to use the snow for household tasks or let animals graze on it. |
"So far we cannot explain the snow, which is oily to the touch and has a pronounced rotten smell," said Omsk environmental prosecutor Anton German, quoted by the Russian news agency Itar-Tass on Thursday. | "So far we cannot explain the snow, which is oily to the touch and has a pronounced rotten smell," said Omsk environmental prosecutor Anton German, quoted by the Russian news agency Itar-Tass on Thursday. |
The origin of the orange effect is still a mystery (pic: Russian TV)"We are waiting for the results of a thorough test on samples." | |
But Vladimir Gurzhey, an official with the civil defence ministry in Omsk, told the Russia TV channel that the snow had four times the normal levels of iron in it. | But Vladimir Gurzhey, an official with the civil defence ministry in Omsk, told the Russia TV channel that the snow had four times the normal levels of iron in it. |
The TV also reported that coloured snow had fallen in the neighbouring regions of Tomsk and Tyumen. | The TV also reported that coloured snow had fallen in the neighbouring regions of Tomsk and Tyumen. |
Omsk, in western Siberia, is a centre of Russia's oil industry. About 27,000 people live in the areas affected by the snow, Russian officials said. | Omsk, in western Siberia, is a centre of Russia's oil industry. About 27,000 people live in the areas affected by the snow, Russian officials said. |
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