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Dramatic floods hit Siberia with fears of worse to come

By 0 and 0 and 0
31 May 2014

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Residents were urged to remain calm and take care of the safety of children and the elderly. Picture: Valery Samsonov

A state of emergency was declared in the mountainous  Republic of Altai after four days of extreme rainfall in southern Siberia. In all, 20 road and pedestrian bridges were damaged, leaving villages cut off.

Almost 4,000 houses were flooded in the deluge with more than 9,000 people hit including 2,000-plus children.

The destruction of a bridge in Chemalsky district caused an accident with the overturning of a GAZ-66 killing two people.

Reports said another four had died in the flooding which has also hit Khakassia and Tuva, with fears for Altai region, as well as Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk and Transbaikal. The Russian Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) and local authorities were working to assist people in the latest flooding to hit Siberia, an increasing phenomenon blamed by some experts on global warming. 

Two Ilyushin Il-76 planes were sent to Siberia carrying rescue equipment, KAMAZ trucks and boats.

More than 2,000 people and 630 appliances were involved in the rescue efforts, along with dozens of boats.

Dramatic floods hit Altai with fears of worse to come


Dramatic floods hit Altai with fears of worse to come


Dramatic floods hit Altai with fears of worse to come


Dramatic floods hit Altai with fears of worse to come


Dramatic floods hit Altai with fears of worse to come

Russia's Hydrometeorological Centre warned of the risk of more heavy rain, with lower temperatures and more showers and thunderstorms, resulting in further flooding. Pictures: Valery Samsonov

Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov said: 'We are enlarging our rescue group in Siberia.

'We are tasked with protecting all the townships and potentially hazardous areas. Meanwhile, a special space system monitors the situation and the met office and all the federal structures are engaged.'

Residents were urged to remain calm, take care of the safety of children and the elderly, and refrain from travelling to worst-hit areas. 

Puchkov dispatched the Tsentrospas national rescue team and the Leader Centre team for high-risk rescue operations to the flood-hit regions. 

He promised victims would receive from 10,000 roubles to 100,000 roubles ($287 to $2,878) in compensation. Russia's Hydrometeorological Centre warned of the risk of more heavy rain, with lower temperatures and more  showers and thunderstorms, resulting in further flooding. 

Comments (8)

I have been following Russian/Siberian events for almost 30 years and I have not heard of flooding in Altai before. It could have happened, I just don't recall it. There are more and more flooding events around the world caused by deforestation and resulting erosion. When there are no tree to hold the soil and let it absorb the rain, the rain must go somewhere. I traveled through Siberia seven years ago and was shocked at the deforestation. Entire forests were missing or were being transported to China via rail.
Rob, Nicaragua
04/06/2014 08:37
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I have been following Russian/Siberian events for almost 30 years and I have not heard of flooding in Altai before. It could have happened, I just don't recall it. There are more and more flooding events around the world caused by deforestation and resulting erosion. When there are no tree to hold the soil and let it absorb the rain, the rain must go somewhere. I traveled through Siberia seven years ago and was shocked at the deforestation. Entire forests were missing or were being transported to China via rail.
Rob, Nicaragua
04/06/2014 08:33
0
0
I have been following Russian/Siberian events for almost 30 years and I have not heard of flooding in Altai before. It could have happened, I just don't recall it. There are more and more flooding events around the world caused by deforestation and resulting erosion. When there are no tree to hold the soil and let it absorb the rain, the rain must go somewhere. I traveled through Siberia seven years ago and was shocked at the deforestation. Entire forests were missing or were being transported to China via rail.
Rob, Nicaragua
04/06/2014 08:31
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0
My deepest condolences go out to the people living in the Altai Region, so many houses ruined ,so many lives changed for the worse, Siberians don't give in,keep that russian endeavour alive ,Adversary is what your people's genes were built on, I know you'll win against all that nature has thrown at you,

Patrick .
Patrick Travers, perth Australia
03/06/2014 11:36
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The construction of the gas and oil Altai pipelines will bring necessary budget for infraestructure in Altai.
Enrique, Spain
01/06/2014 23:44
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the grass will be very green. next time build some ditches!!!! i am sorry for any loss of life. and if this rain did come from geonengineered storms, best not to be outside in it. i wish i could come visit you. and btw, excellent newspaper. excellent.
carol, taos
01/06/2014 20:57
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i don't get it. the oldest civilizations built impressive irrigation networks. why has everyone not built ditches to transfer water when obama sends one of his geoenginnered storms. imagine every man and woman helping in the effort. how long would it take to feed this precious water to a drier region or into a reservoir?
carol, taos
01/06/2014 20:02
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ouch!!!! hold on people
Therese , Sri Lanka
31/05/2014 19:33
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