Ukrainians freeze in eastern city, waiting more than 2 weeks for heat скачать в хорошем качестве

Ukrainians freeze in eastern city, waiting more than 2 weeks for heat

(10 Feb 2006) 1. Wide of street in Alchevsk 2. Medium of ice surrounding pipe 3. Wide of locals walking along street 4. Various of heating system being repaired at Alchevsk Psychiatric Hospital 5. Wide exterior of Alchevsk City Hospital 6. Various of patients being treated in burns unit at Alchevsk City Hospital 7. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Valery Gernaichev, Plumber: "I repaired the car in about ten to fifteen minutes. I did not feel as if the cold had particularly affected me, so I just went home. I then got blisters all over my hands, so I went to a doctor at the hospital the next day after work, and the next morning all the doctors said was that they would do the best they could to help me." 8. Various of Evgeny Zhidnoy with mother STORYLINE: The city of Alchevsk in eastern Ukraine has been suffering a massive utility breakdown, cutting off heat to the city and plunging some 60,000 people into what they are calling "The Ice Age." It began on January 22 during a cold snap when temperatures plunged to a record low of -38C (-36F). The breakdown was unprecedented even in the ex-Soviet republic, where aging communal heating and electricity systems suffer frequent problems, particularly when forced into overdrive. In the Alchevsk Psychiatric Hospital, parts of the building were left without heat. The patients were moved to other parts of the hospital as urgent work to repair the damage continued. A 4,500-person repair team has been working round-the-clock to get the heat back on since President Viktor Yushchenko visited last week, but some 20,000 people remained shivering in unheated apartments on Thursday, warmed primarily by hot-water bottles. Yushchenko set the deadline for Saturday, but few were optimistic. Doctors in Alchevsk said they've seen four times as many patients suffering from the cold over the last month compared to normal. Valery Gernaichev, a plumber in Alchevsk spent only fifteen minutes repairing his car in the freezing cold, but as a result, lost the tips of his fingers on one hand. "I did not feel as if the cold had particularly affected me, so I just went home. I then got blisters all over my hands, so I went to a doctor at the hospital", said Valery Gernaichev. The young have also been affected. Fifteen year old Evgeny Zhidnoy had serious frostbite to both hands after going out in the cold without wearing gloves. Ukraine suffered heartily during last month's cold snap, with more than 700 dying across the country. The victims were primarily homeless and intoxicated people. Gradually, heating has been restored in one apartment building after another. But some 270 buildings remained without heat on Thursday, and even those switched back onto the system were uncomfortably cold, with temperatures only around 12C (54F). Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...