Siberia flood rescue gathers pace

Almost all of Lensk's population has been evacuated

Russian rescuers have evacuated thousands of people stranded by severe flooding in the Yakutia region of eastern Siberia.

As the River Lena's waters rose, helicopters lifted people to safety and delivered supplies to those remaining. The region is suffering its worst floods for 100 years.

I am speaking to you by the only telephone still working here

Emergencies Minister

Russian aircraft have bombed ice floes which have been blocking the flow of water on the River Lena, causing it to burst its banks.

Worst hit is the town of Lensk, which remains under water and without electricity or telephones. But the build-up there, at least, appears to be easing.

About 80% of the town's 26,000 people have been evacuated, according to officials. Hundreds of homes have been swept away or damaged beyond repair.

Contingency plans are being drawn up for people to leave the regional capital, Yakutsk. Russian television reports that outlying areas of the city are already under water.

Fears of looting

About 98% of Lensk is completely under water, with electricity and phone lines cut.

Although at least 20,000 residents have already been evacuated, many others stayed on, fearing their property would be looted.

Some have taken refuge on the upper floors of their homes, while others are camped out on roofs waiting for helicopters to winch them to safety.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry reportedly said on Friday that the Lena had risen to six metres above its critical level.

The ministry had ordered six heavy transport planes carrying food, camp stoves and tents to be dispatched to Yakutia to set up a tent city for the evacuees, the Itar-Tass news agency reports.

Warning

The severe spring flooding, an annual occurrence in Russia, has left almost 5,000 homes under water in 32 towns and villages from the Volga river in European Russia to the Far East.

European Russia has been affected as well

The situation remains particularly severe in Kirensk, in Irkutsk region, where nearly 2,000 homes are flooded.

The Russian authorities frequently use explosives to dislodge stationary ice and prevent the build-up of excess water upriver.

There were warnings earlier this year that Siberia and the Russian Far East could be affected by floods following one of the harshest winters on record, when temperatures plunged to -50C.

The Russian authorities say the situation will remain tense for the next few days.

More rain is forecast and a fresh flood wave is expected from another Lena tributary.