Russia offers Japan help rescue killer whales stuck in ice off coast of Japan

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – The Russian Federal Agency for Fishery (Rosrybolovstvo) on Wednesday offered assistance to Japan in rescuing killer whales trapped in ice off its coast.

"In connection with the news that appeared in the Japanese media about the difficult situation in the waters near the city of Rausu on the island of Hokkaido, Rosrybolovstvo and the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography confirm their readiness to assist in the shortest possible time to rescue mammals listed in the Red List of Threatened Species," the agency said in a statement posted to its website.

The agency emphasized that the Russian scientific body possesses the necessary skills and experience to release killer whales.

On Tuesday, the local Japanese media reported that at least 10 killer whales became trapped in ice off the Japanese coast due to cold temperatures.

Heavy snowfall hit Japan on Tuesday, disrupting life in Tokyo and other parts of the country and injuring many people.