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Winter Ice Downs Power, Closes Moscow Airport


With Moscow's Domodedovo Airport temporarily shut down due to icy rain passengers queue in front of ticket and information counters Sunday, 26 Dec 2010
With Moscow's Domodedovo Airport temporarily shut down due to icy rain passengers queue in front of ticket and information counters Sunday, 26 Dec 2010

Icy rain and snow brought down a major power line in Moscow, shutting down the city's main airport and snarling traffic on its busy streets.

Officials said on Sunday that flights from the Domodedovo airport were suspended for almost 15 hours until the power was partially restored and some planes were allowed to take off.

Flights from Moscow's second airport, Sheremetyevo, were operating, but travelers experienced delays.

Roughly 200,000 people were left without power as ice snapped power lines and slicked over the capital's streets and encased cars.

According to Russia's state-owned news agency, Ria Novosti, some 6,000 passengers were stranded at Domodedovo, and taxis were charging more than $300 to take clients to the airport.

Officials warned residents to stay home until conditions improved.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.

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