Russian Emergencies Ministry to train Arctic rescuers near Irkutsk
© RIA Novosti. Maksim Blinov

Russian Emergencies Ministry to train Arctic rescuers near Irkutsk

The Russian Ministry of Civil Defense, Emergencies and Disaster Relief will use its rescue training center near Irkutsk to train specialists in order to be able to work on Russia's Arctic coast. This has been reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the ministry.

"Training is offered by the St. Petersburg University of the State Fire-Fighting Service and the Vytegra Arctic Rescue Training and Research Center in the Vologda Region. This year the Rescue Training Center of the Baikal Search and Rescue Detachment in the Irkutsk Region will join too," the ministry said.

According to the ministry, Arctic rescuers are trained under special programs. These were developed by with regard to the experience of rapid reaction teams in the Extreme North.

The Russian Arctic zone is home to nuclear power stations, berthing facilities which are used by nuclear icebreakers and also the Navy's nuclear-powered ships. Also there are hazardous chemical plants, explosion and fire hazardous facilities, and sensitive communications infrastructure that might cause man-made emergencies.

The ministry reports that there are five comprehensive emergency and rescue centers in the Arctic today. These are located in Vorkuta, Murmansk, Naryan-Mar, Arkhangelsk and Dudinka, as well as in the Vytegra Arctic Rescue Training and Research Center in the Vologda Region. There are 477 staff.

The Arctic zone witnesses 100 natural or man-made emergencies per year on average. The man-made emergencies are steadily on the rise, with transport accidents (30%), explosions and technological equipment fires (24%) prevailing.

The highly mobile rescue centers will be on stand-by alert and respond to any emergency in the Arctic. They are equipped with aircraft, cross-country vehicles, floating craft and also universal rescue and fire-fighting equipment.