Black snow falls in Siberia

Omsk - Residents of the Siberian city of Omsk have been alarmed by black snow which has fallen twice this week. As black snow covered the ground concerned calls were made to the local environmental watchdog.

The Moscow Times reported that the black snow was first noticed on Wednesday, followed by further black snow on Thursday. Although residents of Omsk were told the abnormally coloured snow presented no health threat, concerned residents made calls to the Federal Inspection Service for Natural Resources, Rosprirodnadzor. A spokesperson for Rospriodnadzor said "Calls about the strange snow keep on coming, indeed, from the district’s residents. A laboratory is underway to the site to take samples" the Moscow News reported. Local prosecutors have now announced they are checking two local businesses, coal producer Omsktekhuglerod and Thermal Power Station No. 5, to determine if they have played a part in changing the colour of the snow. The environmental impact of the oil and gas industries located in Siberia have been linked to previous reports of black snow in the region.