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Falling icicles and ice blocks killed five people and injured 147 in St Petersburg follow­ing Russia’s coldest winter in 30 years. The high toll prompted residents and relatives of victims to demand action against those responsible for what they believe to be careless clearing of ice from rooftops. City Hall said that accidents were inevitable, given the scale of the ice-clearing after such a severe winter. “There are 13,500 roofs in St Petersburg,” said Yury Osipov, head of the city’s housing committee. “With the current record snowfalls, the roofs should be cleared weekly to prevent blocks of ice forming. That’s imposs­ible, not least because it would paralyse traffic in the city.” D.Telegraph, 24 Mar 2010.