A wind storm in Russia’s Kemerovo region covered the town of Kiselyovsk in black coal dust, reducing visibility to almost zero. Strong winds lifted dust from the open-pit coal mines, creating a massive black cloud over the town.
Meteorologists had warned of heavy rains and wind gusts up to 25 meters per second in the region. Kiselyovsk, surrounded by nine coal mines, has been plagued by coal dust pollution. Residents regularly complain about air pollution, with the town even experiencing black snow.
The population of Kiselyovsk has halved in the last two decades due to high mortality rates. Despite concerns about pollution, residents have not seen any significant changes in the town’s environmental conditions.
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