SARANSK, the Republic of Mordovia, April 23 (Itar-Tass) — Special commissions have been set up in Mordovia to estimate the damage caused by spring floods, the administration of the republic’s head reported on Monday.
A decision to form them was passed at a meeting held by Viktor Basargin, the Russian minister of regional development, on Sunday. It was also attended by representatives of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations.
The heads of Russian federal ministries arrived in Mordovia following an order from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The tiny republic was worst hit by floods, the strongest in half a century, this spring. The preliminary damage has been estimated at more than three billion rubles. Roads, hydraulic installations and several bridges were destroyed. Thirty villages were cut off from the mainland. The local population suffered considerable material damage.
More than 5,000 people were hit by floods. Basargin said that all of them would receive aid from the federal and local authorities. The minister had made a helicopter flight over Mordovia’s western part and has met with the population in the flood-stricken areas. Families who lost part of their property will get 50,000 rubles in compensation. One hundred thousand rubles will be paid to families who have lost all their property.
The republic’s head, Nikolai Merkushin, emphasized families with many children and one-parent families will have priority in receiving relief aid.
In the meantime, the flood situation has stabilized in Russia’s Ryazan region.
Water in the local Moksha River rose record high to 801 centimeters, exceeding the critical level of 41 centimeters, on April 21-22. As a result, 47 streets and over 1,100 households with over 3,500 people, including 602 children, were waterlogged. Three hundred nineteen people were evacuated from the hazard area.
“There has been no further water rise. The water levels are predicted to start falling as of April 24,” the press service went on to say.
Sixteen temporary accommodation centers have been set up to receive 3,760 people.
The bank of the Moksha River and the foundations of houses in the Kadom village have been reinforced. Boat crossings have been organized, the regional branch of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations said.
Almost 500 rescuers, including 300 volunteers, have been called in to fight the flood.