Rescue workers in Kabardino-Balkaria have proposed using mosques to warn people of a threat in case of an emergency situation. The idea was raised during a session of the republic's governmental committee on forecasting and eliminating emergency situations and fire safety maintenance.
An unscheduled check of the warning system in the republic's capital uncovered 16 of 24 sirens not working properly, having been installed at the end of last century. The deputy head of the Emergencies Ministry for Kabardino-Balkaria, Hasan Appoev, noted that the regional centrally automated warning systems were created in 1975 and renovated in 1994, and were no longer fit for purpose.
The participants in the session agreed to draw up detailed plans for warnings of emergency situautions for every population centre and discussed using loudspeakers mounted on road traffic vehicles and ambulances. It was proposed signing an agreement with the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims on using loudspeakers mounted on mosques.
The assistant to the mufti of the republic, Alima Sizhazheva, said the warning system in populated areas had worked for a long time and proved its efficiency, and that there would be no opposition to the proposal when it came, as it was a question of saving human lives.
