Russia’s environmental monitoring agency is investigating reports about blue and violet snow covering a neighborhood in northern St. Petersburg.
The Rosprirodnadzor agency came to examine the site after residents complained about blue snow — and found that there was violet snow as well — the Fontanka news website reported on Tuesday, publishing a video of the incident.
"The snow had a shade of bright blue, and in places, for example on the sidewalk adjoining the building, which is to be razed (a chemical pharmaceuticals plant), it had a violet shade," Fontanka cited Gulnara Gudulova, the agency’s press secretary, as saying.
Samples were taken for a laboratory analysis, she added.
Residents fear that the color comes from toxic chemicals. The colored snow is about one centimeter thick and has been found on the ground as well as on parked cars and window sills, Fontanka reported.
The country’s hydrometeorological center told Fontanka that the color may be caused by cobalt or methylene blue leaks.
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