Hundreds of people were forced to evacuate as flooding hit the Yakutia region in northern Russia.
Floods are not unusual in May, when temperatures begin to rise above 0℃ in the region. However, this year, the rapid rise in water levels caught the people of Yakutia by surprise. According to official information, the floods caused no casualties, but significant damage to infrastructure in Yakutia and the death of many livestock.
According to the Russian Emergencies Ministry, a total of more than 1,600 houses here were flooded. The Irtysh River has not risen in the past 24 hours and is currently just under 10 meters high, but according to forecasts, the river could continue to rise until June.
Earlier, regional Governor Alexander Moor said on May 15 that the flood situation had worsened again in Russia's Tyumen province as the water level of the Irtysh River rose.
“The situation is getting worse again. High water flows from the Ishim River into the Irtysh River and the water is rising rapidly in the Vagai district,” Mr Moor wrote on Telegram.
Mr Moor confirmed that the Irtysh River water level exceeded its peak in 2016 and 2017 in the village of Bolshoi Karagai in Vagai district.
"The water level has now exceeded 80 cm of the 2017 level at the water monitoring station in the village of Ust-Ishim in Omsk region. We expect this amount of water to also reach the Vagai district. The main task now is to evacuate people, save their property, livestock and pets," said Governor Moor.
We continue to reinforce dams and use earth bags. We are increasing our forces and flood protection equipment in the Vagai district. 52 employees of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations have been sent to the area."
The Irtysh River has risen by 15 cm to more than 1.2 m at Bolshoi Karagai in Vagai district, with nearly 70 houses at risk of being submerged in floodwaters. A total of 15 communities may be flooded in Vagai district.
Meanwhile, the water level of the Ishim River has begun to decrease in the town of Ishim and the Abatskoye, Kazanskoye and Vikulovo districts, and the flood situation is gradually stabilizing.
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