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N0KFQ > TODAY 20.09.15 16:31l 37 Lines 1433 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 67739_N0KFQ
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Subj: Today in History - Sep 20
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<IR1UAW<IQ5KG<I0OJJ<N6RME<N0KFQ
Sent: 150920/1430Z 67739@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.64
2002
Avalanche thunders into Russian village
A glacial avalanche in Russia buries a village on this day in
2002, killing more than 100 people.
The North Ossetia area of Russia was hard hit by floods in June
2002. These floods, along with an early and hot summer, proved to
be a precursor to a much larger disaster in September. Large
glaciers sit above the town of Vladikavkaz. With higher than
normal temperatures in 2002, increased water runoff showed that
these glaciers were beginning to melt and weaken.
On the afternoon of September 20, a 400-foot-tall chunk of ice
broke from a large glacier and plunged down the side of the
mountain. The resulting avalanche picked up speed, hitting close
to 100 miles per hour at its fastest and traveling an astonishing
20 miles, destroying everything in its path. The village of
Karmadon was completely buried by tons of stone and ice. Rescue
efforts began immediately and continued for weeks. Twenty-seven
people were pulled out alive. Finding victims' remains proved to
be much more difficult work. Even weeks after the avalanche, less
than half the150 people who had been reported missing had been
found.
In total, the avalanche caused $20 million in damages. Had it
traveled just a few miles further and hit Vladikavkaz, the death
and damage toll would have been far worse.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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