General overview of the flooding situationin the Far East region of the Russian Federation

Since late July 2013, a severe flooding situation has occurred in the Far East region of the Russian Federation, including territories bordering to the People's Republic of China.

In this regard, as of 7 August 2013 astate of emergency has been declared, and response has been organized at state level in regions in the following territories: the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Amur region, Jewish autonomous region, Khabarovsk region, and Primorsk region.

Since 22 August 2013, 134 settlements, containing 6,5 thousand houses with a total population close to 34 thousandpeople, 189 roads and 44 bridges, located in 26 municipalities,became submerged under water.In total, 23261 persons have been evacuated, among them 7521 children. 123 temporary shelters have been set up. 45 of them hold 2810 persons, including 1183 children.The gravest situationis in Amur region, near the basin of river Zeya. 85 settlements are flooded there, including 5000 houses, courtyards, roads and infrastructure.

As of 23 August 2013, the situation at Zeya and Bureysk hydro power plants is the following.

At the Zeya hydro power plant, the upper level of water is at 319m (a 6cm decrease during the last day), with an influx of 4000 cubic meters per second (a decrease of 1200 cubic meters per second in the last day), a total daily water expenditure through the hydro aggregates of Zeya hydro power plant and a free overfall of 4963 cubic meters per second (an increase by 5 cubic meters per second), and the critical level is at 319 meters.

At the Bureysk hydro power plant, the upper level of water is at 255 m (a 16 cm decrease during the last day), an influx of 3000 cubic meters per second (a decrease of 231 cubic cm in the last day), a total daily water expenditure through the hydro aggregates of Bureyskhydro power plant, and a free overfall of 3387 cubic meters per second (an increase by 5 cubic meters per second), and the critical level at 256 meters.

For the time being Zeya and Bureysk hydro power plants continue to function in an ordinary manner, preventingmass flooding in Amur region, Jewish autonomous region and Khabarovsk region.

Alongside with other state authorities, EMERCOM of Russia is undertaking a number of measures to control the flooding. A newly created state commission, under the leadership of Minister V.A.Puchkov, has monitored and analyzed the condition of the Zeya and Bureyskhydro power plants, the preparedness of nearby settlements, the sufficiency of undertaken preventive steps and resources. Numerous measures have been takenin terms of creating additional temporary population shelters, continuing safe operation of Zeya and Bureyskhydro power plants, as well as informing the population of the development of thecrisis.

EMERCOM of Russia has provided aviation and automobile transportation, as well as food to the emergency zone. In total, over 1,3 thousand tons of goods have been supplied since the start of the flooding.

Preventative and mitigating measures were undertaken, bearing in mind the prognosis of the situation at hand. Timely evacuation of the population was conducted ahead of the flooding. Post, social services and media have been sustained in a working manner.Large-sized families, pensioners, and war and labor veterans were prioritized.

Cooperation with Chinese authorities at state and regional levels has been established. An exchange of information was organized with Ministry of Civil Administration of the PRC, the Ministry of Water Resources of the PRC, the Embassy of the PRC in Russia and Chinese regional authorities.

In the six affected areas of the Far East region a task force comprising of 40648 people and 6769 technical units,including 15 airplanes, has been created. The situation is under constant observation and control, the relevant authorities are operating under the state of emergency.