30 March, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. Explosives disposal unit of PASO "Vityaz" will conduct ice blasting on the Charnitsa River in Liozno District, press secretary of the Vitebsk Region Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Marina Fando told a BELTA correspondent. The ice jam removal will take place on March 31 near the bridge's supporting structures due to its low clearance. There is no need for blasting operations on other rivers in the region, as the opening of waterways is proceeding smoothly. As noted by the Vitebsk Regional Center for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, this spring the ice breakup on the region's water bodies is occurring quietly and slowly due to favourable weather conditions – low positive temperatures during the day and freezing at night. Ice drift of varying intensity is observed on all rivers in the region, except for the Drissa, Usvyacha, and the upper reaches of the Western Dvina, where the ice cover still remains. The situation is developing calmly so far and does not cause concern, specialists concluded. -0-

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