Latest News

Water levels in Russia's Kurgan cross 'harmful' levels

The water level in the Tobol River around the city of Kurgan in Russia's southern Urals has surpassed the dangerous level mark, RIA state news firm reported on Wednesday, pointing out local authorities.

The river in the city, which is the administrative centre of the more comprehensive Kurgan region straddling the Tobol River near the border with Kazakhstan, increased by 123 cms (four feet) in the 24 hours to Wednesday early morning, reaching 865 cms (28 feet), RIA reported.

In the centre of Kurgan evacuation sirens have actually been blasting every 2 hours, RIA reported, urging resident to flee to security. Officials said the river reaches a risk level as soon as it crosses 850 cms (27 feet).

More than 660 property houses were flooded in the region by Wednesday early morning, RIA pointed out emergency situation ministry as stating.

Residents of 14 settlements in the Ishim district of the Tyumen area in southwestern Siberia were also being evacuated on Wednesday with dangers coming from the increasing level of the Ishim River, authorities said.

Water levels in rivers in swathes of Russia's Ural and southwestern Siberian regions, in addition to nearby areas of Kazakhstan, were still rising rapidly, officials said.

The catastrophe has actually been caused by the fast melting of large snowfalls amidst heavy rain, swelling the tributaries of numerous of Europe's largest rivers.

The total variety of people evacuated from their home rose towards 200,000 late Tuesday after the governor of Russia's. Tyumen area informed citizens of Ishim, a town of 65,000, that. they ought to leave urgently.