Putin names new envoy for far east region after floods
Source: Reuters
(Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Saturday named a new envoy to oversee Russia's far eastern region, yet denied the switch was linked to his call for an inquiry into local officials' handling of serious floods there.
Putin appointed Yuri Trutnev, a Kremlin aide, as deputy prime minister and personal envoy to the region in a step that concentrates his power, and further sidelines his prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev.
The announcement came as Putin wrapped up a regional tour in which he visited cities on the Amur River in eastern Siberia that have suffered the worst flooding in more than a century, causing damage estimated at $1 billion.
Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/08/31/uk-russia-putin-east-idUKBRE97U07820130831
Sandbags & trenches: Russian Far East floods worsen.
People are struggling day and night as the worst flooding in 120 years hits Russia. The Amur River rose by another 14cm in the past 24 hours. Over 100,000 people from 185 towns are affected, with damage to 9,500 homes in several regions in the Far East.
"For now, it’s a race to lay thousands of sandbags and dig kilometers of draining trenches to keep the water from claiming more towns and villages," RT's Paul Scott, who has been reporting from the flood-hit city of Khabarovsk for over a week, said.
Rescue crews and local volunteers are struggling day and night trying to keep the water at bay. According to Scott, many fear the waters won't recede by winter.
Water levels are expected to increase up to 780 cm by the end of August and could reach a critical benchmark of 830cm in September.
On Thursday, the level of the Amur River showed an alarming rise, hitting 7.6 meters. By Friday morning, it had hit 7.7 meters, the local Emergencies Ministry reported.
http://rt.com/news/russia-amur-flood-far-east-191/
= new reply since forum marked as read
The Repubbies will let the Ruski's know that climate change and consequent extreme weather events are not real -- just LibTard propaganda. Swallow the Repubbie line, and problem solved.
