Thousands evacuated from Russian floods

Thousands of people have been evacuated from Russia's Far East due to severe flooding, prompting authorities to set up shelters for the evacuated people.

Over 18,000 people were displaced from the Amur region, the Khabarovsk Territory and the Jewish Autonomous Region north of China and close to the Sea of Okhotsk. The flood was the result of heavy rains that broke the riverbanks. Emergency reports claim the river's water will reach an unprecedented 7 meters by next week.

Rescue officials held that more than 32,000 inhabitants in 121 villages were affected with a number of towns being totally destroyed.

166 temporary shelters were set up and emergency supplies flown in. A plane was dispatched to the city of Blagoveshchensk with 53 tons of aid, including food, life jackets and boats.

Addressing the media Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday urged local authorities to get personally involved in the rescue operations.