BAKHCHIVANDZHI, Moscow Region, April 23 (AVN) - Some 10 houses in the Bakhchivandzhi compound of the Chkalovsky aviation garrison are in a critical situation and can explode at any moment, the village residents who comprise the initiative group for rescuing the compound, told the Military News Agency on Monday.
Many years of systematic outpouring of oil products near the Chkalovsky airfield resulted in formation of a kerosene slick of over 20 hectares at the depth of two to six meters in the ground and the total volume of several dozens of thousands of tonnes.
The smell of oil products and kerosene is permanent in basements of the compound's residential houses. Air tests showed that the concentration of oil vapour exceeds the maximum permissible level almost thjree times. The concentration is growing every day, forming a gas mixture capable to explode from any occasional spark. The ground from the basements easily combusts when taken outdoors.
Of major concern to the locals is airfield's aviation fuel stock that is located only 300 meters from living houses.
Residents of the compound say their numerous appeals to the Defence and Emergencies Ministries, as well as to the local sanitary and epidemiological service, have been left unanswered.