Residents Told to Stay Indoors as Mysterious Stinky Fog Descends on Moscow
While many were quick to comment on the smell, these two journalists based in Moscow indicated that the fog actually made it difficult to breathe.
Toxic #gas in the air of #Moscow, a lot of theories on the source. My throat feels rough. *cough*
— Birgit Schmeitzner (@BSchmeitzner) November 10, 2014
Toxic gas cloud has arrived in Moscow centre. Choked on way to studio. #Russia
— Matthew Chance (@mchancecnn) November 10, 2014
But where did it come from? And more importantly — what was it?
State-run news organizations say the smog came from a leak from a sulfur dioxide processing facility at an oil refinery in Moscow.
@tvrain_live @tvrain Туман р-н Люберецкие поля / Кожухово 10:30 утра #твитдождю #запах #сероводород pic.twitter.com/iZfYlYYc8o
— Леопольд Стотч (@antipovp) November 10, 2014
Local news outlets reported that the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations had advised Muscovites to stay indoors with their windows closed earlier in the day. Apparently politicians in Moscow’s government buildings, known as the Duma, also reported the smell.
Toxic gas in Moscow: the ministry of emergency situations is asking Muscovites not to go out and keep windows and doors closed
— Paul Gypteau (@paulgypteau) November 10, 2014
Other government officials were quick to reassure residents that the smog was not harmful to their health. The head of the Department of Natural Resources said that the smog was not dangerous. By the evening, the Ministry of Emergency Situations told state-run news organization ITAR-Tass that the smell came from a Moscow refinery which had temporarily stopped operations.
However GazProm Neft, which owns the refinery, said that the information is not true. The company denied that their refinery was the source of the smell and indicated that the operation was up and running as usual.
“The plant is operating normally, according to the production plan, ” GazProm Neft said in a statement, quoted by the local news source.
The location of the plant in the southeast of the city can be seen on the map below.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations was quick to reassure residents that while the smell was quite alarming, it was not unsafe. However the Environmental Agency seemed to directly contradict the statement, advising residents to limit their time outdoors.
#Russia Emergency Situations Ministry insisting no danger from noxious gas shrouding #Moscow. Environmental Agency advises: No long walks.
— Matthew Chance (@mchancecnn) November 10, 2014
This story is developing…
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