Freak floods turn Siberian runway into a lake forcing closure of airport for four days

The Siberian Times
Fri, 14 Jul 2017 00:00 UTC

A muddy take off... Bodaibo airport pictured several years ago

Vacations ruined by spectacular flood at Bodaibo as the airport is closed for four days, 11 flights grounded.

The freak floods in Irkutsk region have left hundreds of passengers stranded, many of them seeking to escape for beach holidays.

The runway, prone to turning into a mud bath, is now like a lake after the incessant downpours.

Evgeny Yumashev, mayor of Bodaibo, a gold-mining outpost with a 13.104 population, explained: 'The abnormal rains began here, starting from Sunday.

'Looking back, we did not have such weather in a long time.'

The 'endless rains' have led to 'the complete collapse of our airport,' he admitted.

At least 500 are now marooned either flying from or two the stricken town in Irkutsk region.

The nearest alternative airport at Taksimo is also out of reach because of severe flooding on the road.

This has meant huge delays as drivers seek to splash their way through.

Footage shows earlier problems at the Bodaibo airport, some 1290 km from regional capital Irkutsk.