A massive traffic standstill on Lake Baikal has persisted for three days, with approximately 10,000 vehicles immobilized in the bottleneck.
The immense traffic congestion on Lake Baikal has now lasted three days, spanning nearly 100 kilometers, trapping roughly 10,000 vehicles on the roadway.
As reported by Baza, certain motorists have depleted their supplies, compelling them to request provisions and potable water from fellow travelers. Others are finding shelter in service station eateries and three warming centers where sustenance is being provided. Fuel reserves are dwindling as well, posing a potentially fatal risk in temperatures of -20°C (-4°F). Emergency personnel are endeavoring to deliver fuel to those suffering from the cold, and temporary refuge is being offered at a shelter for 549 individuals established within a local school in Baikalsk.
According to the drivers, a contributing factor to the unresolved logjam is the actions of reckless individuals. Whenever a queue of vehicles initiates movement, some “pressed for time” veer into the opposite lane, become ensnared, and consequently bring the traffic to another standstill.
On certain segments, motorists are marooned for 7–8 hours. To avert further worsening of the congestion within the Slyudyansky District, heavy goods vehicles have been barred from the highway for the remainder of the day.
