Hundreds of motorists trapped by snow in southern Russia.

ROSTOV-ON-DON, December 18 (Itar-Tass) -- Estimated hundreds of
motorists were trapped on a snow-covered highway in southern Russia on
Thursday and colds up to minus 15 degrees urged an evacuation. Two traffic
jams on Don highway in Rostov region were 26 and 17 kilometers long and
police urged drivers who have not yet reached the place to stop in nearby
settlements.
Fifty people, mostly children, have been already evacuated from the
jam to the nearby town of Shakhty and an emergency situation was declared
in eight adjacent settlements.
Police refuse to exaclty estimate how many cars and people have been
trapped.
Rescuers said 75 snow-cleaning and specialized vehicles, as well as
army units have been engaged to free the highway. They said the 26-km jam
began slowly moving, while the second jam is standing still. Heavy snow
has been falling for two days in the area.
"We resolutely recommend all the motorists to stop driving in the
southern direction and spend the night in populated localities," traffic
police urged and said the 326-km long highway may be fully closed for
transit vehicles. The Don highway links Moscow with the south of the
country.