KHABAROVSK — Waters of the Amur River near the flood-hit city of Khabarovsk in Russia's Far East rose six more centimeters over the past 24 hours, local meteorologists said in a statement Wednesday.
"As of 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, water levels of the Amur River near the city of Khabarovsk stood at 808 centimeters," the statement said adding that the level is expected to peak at 830 centimeters by Sept. 6-9.
The current level already surpassed the record mark of 642 centimeters — registered in 1897 — by almost two meters, while the critical mark of the water level for Khabarovsk stands at six meters.
Almost 60 towns and villages are flooded across the Khabarovsk Territory and over 2,000 residential buildings have been affected. Over 3,200 people have been evacuated from flooded areas.
The current spike in water levels near the city of Khabarovsk may partly be the result of dams on tributaries of the Amur in Chinese territory releasing water in late August, the Federal Meteorological Service said Tuesday. Northern China, which borders Russia's Far East along the Amur River, has also experienced severe flooding in recent weeks with reports of up to 85 deaths.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
