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Flood threat near Tuva's earthquake epicentre removed

The flood threat was eliminated thanks to the joint efforts involving heavy machinery from Kyzyl

GORNO-ALTAISK, February 29 (Itar-Tass) — The flood threat with the flood ice waters in the villages of the Kaa-Khem district of Tuva near the epicentre of the earthquake is removed. The flood threat was eliminated thanks to the joint efforts involving heavy machinery from Kyzyl, the press service of the republican government reported on Wednesday.

After a strong earthquake 55 kilometres east of the village of Saryg-Sep (the administrative centre of the Kaa-Khem district) on the Mergen River near the settlement of the same name flood ice waters began to go up. The threat to the village of Mergen was urgently eliminated, but the flood began to get closer to Saryg-Sep from the Sovkhoznaya Street. The water also flooded in the Saryg-Sep electric power substation, which provides electric power supplies for 8,850 people. Thanks to the urgent measures of power utilities the level of water does not go up at the electric power substation. Power utility workers jointly with the Tuva authorities are keeping the situation under control and there are no risks for electric power cuts, the specialists pledged.

The construction of a dam continues and the highway track is being reinforced. Working brigades were formed to cut the ice in order to let the water flowing in the direction away from the district centre. Six settlements remain in the flood hazardous area.