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EMERCOM taking all possible measures to prtect Amur region settlements

The flood situation in the Amur region worsened more than two weeks ago over long heavy rains
Photo ITAR-TASS/EMERCOM of Russia Press Service
Photo ITAR-TASS/EMERCOM of Russia Press Service

THE ZEYA HYDROPOWER PLANT (Amur region), August 7 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) is taking all the measures to protect the settlements in the Amur region in case of a sharply worse flood situation, Minister of Emergency Situations Vladimir Puchkov told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.

“On the instructions from the Russian President an additional federal task force - the emergency task force Tsentrospas and the emergency centre Leader of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations arrived in the flood-hit area. They will be conducting a round-the-clock monitoring of the situation,” the minister said.

The flood situation in the Amur region worsened more than two weeks ago over long heavy rains, which also resulted in a growing water level in the dam lake. In case of the maximal water discharge from the Zeya dam lake 30 settlements can be flooded, including Blagoveshchensk.

“The water growth rate in the dam lake slowed down. Our main task is to minimize the losses from the emergency situation, protect the life of people and provide for a stable work of all social services. We are monitoring the situation, all the measures for the protection of the settlements, which are situated lower than the pool of the dam, will be taken in advance,” Puchkov noted.

On Wednesday, Puchkov together with RusHydro head Yevgeny Dod, Governor of the Amur region Oleg Kozhemyako and head of the Russian weather forecasting service Roshydromet Alexander Frolov visited the Zeya hydropower plant.

“A technical examination of the dam structure was made, all variants of cooperation between all agencies were discussed,” the minister of emergency situation said.

The situation is under control so far. Over an unfavourable weather forecast the evacuation of people and the placement of temporary accommodation stations are being planned, Governor of the Amur region Oleg Kozhemyako said. All local residents are informed in advance, he said. “We have 3-4 days in store to prepare fully,” the governor said, noting the regional authorities are working according to a possible worst development of events that is the maximum water discharge from the Zeya hydropower plant. “All depends from the level of rains, which are filling up the rivers inflowing in the dam lake,” Kozhemyako explained.

The houses are flooded in 15 settlements in the Amur region, people were evacuated from five settlements. The rescuers are working in these villages.