MOSCOW – Thousands are stranded in Moscow airports after icy rains caused blackouts and food shortages.
The freezing rain in the Russian capital over the weekend grounded planes and damaged power transmission lines.
The Russian Tourism Association said Monday that some 20,000 passengers have had their flights delayed. Airport authorities claim the number is in low thousands.
The Gazeta.ru daily said that in the Domodedovo airport in southeastern Moscow, several thousand passengers are spending the night in halls darkened by low power and filled with cigarette smoke.
Restaurants hiked prices of food and beverages and passengers are complaining about food shortages, Gazeta.ru said.
