Amur water level near Khabarovsk rises beyond 730 cm mark

The water level in the Amur river reached the 731 cm mark on Monday morning, a 8 cm increase over the past 24 hours, the press service of the Russian Ministry for Emergencies (RME) department for Khabarovsk Territory reports. Denis Ilyanov, deputy head of the regional department of the RME, told local television in a live broadcast on Monday that the situation in Khabarovsk Territory remains complex. All actions of the authorities and rescuers are based on an unfavourable forecast, according to which water may rise up to 8 metres and even higher than that by September 3. This is why all efforts are aimed at building protective dikes to a height of up to 8.3 and even 8.80 metres. Special attention is being paid to protecting life-supprot systems. Freshet in the Amur is expected to keep high until the end of September. "It becomes the main problem to eliminate as soon as possible the aftermath of the flood. When water level in the Amur will go down, it will be necessary to pump water out of cellars, to air-dry rooms, and prepare houses for winter," Ilyanov said, assuring the audience that assistance to Khabarovsk residents will be given by specialists from other regions of the country.