VLADIVOSTOK, August 23 (Itar-Tass) - Specialists say the Amur river in Russia's flood-stricken Far East region may rise to higher than 730-780 cm, Khabarovsk administration head Alexander Sokolov told reporters. But this was not likely to be the limit and instructions had been issued to make restraining dikes higher, the official said.
Dikes were built in the city when the river rose to seven metres, now forming a 10-kilometre protective line. But at times they fail. Soldiers and volunteers had built such a structure at Yungov Street to protect a building of eight apartments but groundwater rose and residents moved out. The dike has now been moved to protect other buildings.
The flood has inundated Khabarovsk, Nanai and Amur municipal districts and the city of Khabarovsk itself. A total of 709 houses, 948 yards and areas of about 4,000 country houses are under water. About 1,200 people, including 229 children, have been evacuated from the flooded areas. Most choose to go to relatives or friends though many refuse to leave their homes.
Mayor Sokolov instructed that water levels should be marked on walls of buildings for specialists and residents to see what will be flooded. This may influence those unwilling to be evacuated more than all the explanations of rescuers and officials, specialists say.