Iceberg building appears in Siberia during dead of winter
By
Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and senior content editor
Published Jan 25, 2020 1:48 AM EDT
Veuer’s Lenneia Batiste has more on a Russian housing blocks that's turned to ice after being neglected by the Government.
In the frozen corner of Siberia is a towering building encased in ice, all caused by a few broken pipes in sub-freezing weather.
The building, which is located in Irkutsk, Russia, resembles more of an ice sculpture or towering iceberg than an apartment complex after burst pipes sent water and steam pouring through the structure.
Temperatures in Irkutsk have been below freezing since Nov. 11, 2019, with many of the long, winter nights causing the mercury to drop below 0 degrees F. This has allowed for the ice to continually grow and expand, converting some rooms to entire blocks of ice while icicles grow longer and longer from the roof.
Almost as surprising as the incredible icy display is the fact that families still reside inside the building.
According to Reuters, a dozen families still call this building home, living in areas that are not covered in a thick blanket of ice.
“Last year, this (ice) reached the ceiling,” resident Gulbakhor Kinzaeva said. “In the summer, June, [a] (door) was open and we saw this (mound of) ice, we were scared.”
“You can see the ice this year has already reached the wall. I don't think it will melt in the summer, it'll still be there, look at the 'ice rink,’” they added.
An apartment building in Irkutsk, Russia, that has become over-run with ice on the outside -- and on the inside. Some of the building's residents have been relocated, but several people were still living in the building under difficult conditions. (Reuters)
The building was originally intended to house families of those serving in the military, but fell into disarray when it was in the process of being turned over to the local government.
However, there does appear to be a light at the end of the icy tunnel for the families still residing in the building.
According to Deputy Irkutsk Mayor Vladimir Prelovsky, the government of Irkutsk is working to relocate the families to more comfortable living arrangements.
“Investigators are looking into establishing all the circumstances surrounding what happened,” Irkutsk Region Investigative Committee representative Karina Golovocheva said. “The inhabitants of the building will be questioned, as well as officials from the Irkutsk Region government."
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News / Winter Weather
Iceberg building appears in Siberia during dead of winter
By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and senior content editor
Published Jan 25, 2020 1:48 AM EDT
Veuer’s Lenneia Batiste has more on a Russian housing blocks that's turned to ice after being neglected by the Government.
In the frozen corner of Siberia is a towering building encased in ice, all caused by a few broken pipes in sub-freezing weather.
The building, which is located in Irkutsk, Russia, resembles more of an ice sculpture or towering iceberg than an apartment complex after burst pipes sent water and steam pouring through the structure.
Temperatures in Irkutsk have been below freezing since Nov. 11, 2019, with many of the long, winter nights causing the mercury to drop below 0 degrees F. This has allowed for the ice to continually grow and expand, converting some rooms to entire blocks of ice while icicles grow longer and longer from the roof.
Almost as surprising as the incredible icy display is the fact that families still reside inside the building.
According to Reuters, a dozen families still call this building home, living in areas that are not covered in a thick blanket of ice.
“Last year, this (ice) reached the ceiling,” resident Gulbakhor Kinzaeva said. “In the summer, June, [a] (door) was open and we saw this (mound of) ice, we were scared.”
“You can see the ice this year has already reached the wall. I don't think it will melt in the summer, it'll still be there, look at the 'ice rink,’” they added.
An apartment building in Irkutsk, Russia, that has become over-run with ice on the outside -- and on the inside. Some of the building's residents have been relocated, but several people were still living in the building under difficult conditions. (Reuters)
The building was originally intended to house families of those serving in the military, but fell into disarray when it was in the process of being turned over to the local government.
However, there does appear to be a light at the end of the icy tunnel for the families still residing in the building.
According to Deputy Irkutsk Mayor Vladimir Prelovsky, the government of Irkutsk is working to relocate the families to more comfortable living arrangements.
“Investigators are looking into establishing all the circumstances surrounding what happened,” Irkutsk Region Investigative Committee representative Karina Golovocheva said. “The inhabitants of the building will be questioned, as well as officials from the Irkutsk Region government."
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