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Putin makes helicopter flight over flood-stricken villages in Blagoveshchensk district

Over 1,200 houses were damaged in the flood in Blagoveshchensk district, the water has washed out hundreds of countryside land plots
Photo ITAR-TASS/Alexei Nikolsky
Photo ITAR-TASS/Alexei Nikolsky

BLAGOVESHCHENSK, August 29 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Vladimir Putin, who arrived in Amur Region overnight to Thursday, has made a helicopter flight over the villages in Blagoveshchensk district that remain in the flood zone.

The President has inspected the flooded settlements, including the Vladimirovka village, where the water level reached the second floor and even the roofs of houses at the peak of the flood. Regional Governor Oleg Kozhemyako and Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Viktor Ishayev accompanied the President and told him about the flood situation.

Over 1,200 houses were damaged in the flood in Blagoveshchensk district, the water has washed out hundreds of countryside land plots. The houses are almost completely flooded in Vladimirovka and are partially flooded in Ust-Ivanovka and Grodekovo, Kanikurgan and Zarechnoye are a bit less damaged.

The water is receding slowly from the settlements. The height of the flood in Vladimirovka passed on August 15; the water went up to 8.12 meters on that day. Now the water level makes 6.1 meters above the normal level.

A devastating flood, which had stricken Amur River Region for more than a month, damaged more than 70 bridges and destroyed completely several bridges. More than 1,200 kilometers of roads should be restored. For the last few days the traffic was restored to 13 out of 47 settlements.

According to the reports on Thursday, more than 4,400 houses, where 23,600 people live, remain flooded in 46 settlements in the region. As many as 33 sections of local roads at a total distance of 101.57 kilometers and 69 local motor bridges remain damaged.