Damage from floods in Yakutia estimated at 500 mln rbls

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Damage from this spring's floods in Yakutia totals 500 million roubles, according to preliminary estimates.

Thirty four residential areas have been affected by the floods, 86 kilometres of roads were damaged and tens of hydro-technical installations, 41 bridges, dams and more than 200 kilometres of electro-transmission lines were damaged or destroyed, Yakutia's deputy government head Artur Alexeyev, who heads the commission on emergencies, told a press conference on Wednesday.

The situation is critical not only in the Tatta region where, according to the updated information, more than 1,120 houses are inundated and more than 3,600 people area evacuated. Residential areas near the Kolyma and Yana Rivers are faced with serious problems. An evacuation operation is under way in the village of Beryozovka. Three helicopters have carried rescuers and delivered tents and food products to the village.

The deputy government head said that the forecasts of meteorologists and hydrologists were confirmed. Melted snow will cause another water rise in rivers. The flood in the Tatta region may last long.

// May 23, 2007

Reported by ITAR-TASS