Unprecedented flooding hits east Russia

Five regions in eastern Russia have declared a state of emergency amid flooding assessed by the national weather center as the worst in the country’s history.

According to AFP, officials said on Saturday with thousands already affected, the flooding in Russia’s Far East is expected to reach its peak next week as emergency workers and local residents step up efforts to tackle the disaster.
Civil Defense Minister Vladimir Puchkov told President Vladimir Putin in a videoconference broadcast on state television about 5,300 houses in more than 120 communities had been swamped by the flooding, caused by heavy rain.

The Amur region, along the border with China, is the worst-hit.
Officials have warned that waters in the city of Khabarovsk could rise to their highest level for more than a century on Monday.
An estimated 13,000 people have been moved to safety while another 100,000 are yet to be evacuated in the upcoming days.