Russia declares state of emergency after major Arctic Circle oil spill

Russian president Vladimir Putin has declared a state of emergency after 20,000 tonnes of diesel fuel spilled into a river within the Arctic Circle from a power plant.

It happened last Friday in the Siberian industrial city of Norilsk, 1,800 miles (2,900km) northeast of Moscow.

During a televised government meeting to discuss it, Mr Putin criticised officials for what he claimed was a bungled state response.

He said he was shocked to discover local authorities had only learned about it two days later from social media.

Taking aim at the region's governor, Alexander Uss, he said: "What are we to learn about emergency situations from social networks? Are you alright healthwise over there?"

The state environment watchdog said 15,000 tonnes of oil products had seeped into the river system, which turned the water crimson, with another 6,000 into the subsoil - causing a fire and contaminating a 350 sq km (135 sq mile) area.

The city is built around Norilsk Nickel, the world's leading nickel and palladium producer.

The company says it is doing all it can to clear up the spill, affecting the river Ambarnaya - and that it has brought in specialists from Moscow who have sectioned off the area to stop the oil products spreading further.

A spokesman said those specialists expect to be able to draw off the fuel from the river in 10-14 days, adding that it was too early to assess the damage.

The state fisheries agency has described the incident as an "ecological catastrophe" and claimed the water system would take decades to recover.

Norilsk, which foreigners need permission to visit, has acquired a bad reputation for pollution.

The company, Norilsk Nickel, says it has mounted a big push to improve the city's environment and surroundings.