PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, June 27 (RIA Novosti, Oksana Guseva) - The Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia is witnessing an unusual situation, as drifting ice has accumulated near its eastern coast, the local meteorological and environmental monitoring department reported Monday.
Sea experts say the ice that accumulates in winter in the Bering Sea, which is farther to the north, drifts southward every year in late June. However, after reaching Kamchatka's latitudes, the ice is usually carried to the Pacific, where it melts.
This year the situation is extremely unusual. Ice blocks have broken the nets of salmon fishing companies and forced them to abandon catches.
According to sea experts, ice blocks are currently in the center of the Kamchatka Bay. Bad weather is affecting satellite signals, which means it is impossible to forecast where the ice will move next and how big the blocks are.
