Russia floods could see up to 100,000 evacuated: minister

A man rows a boat across a flooded street during spring floodings in the suburb of the town of Bryansk, on April 19, 2013. More than 17,000 people have been evacuated in Russia's flood-hit Far East, a minister said Saturday, warning this figure could reach 100,000 as floodwaters wreak havoc across the region. (AFP/File)

MOSCOW (AFP) – More than 17,000 people have been evacuated in Russia's flood-hit Far East, a minister said Saturday, warning this figure could reach 100,000 as floodwaters wreak havoc across the region.

The deluge has been declared a natural disaster in the worst-affected regions of Amur and Khabarovsk, where Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the army to participate in rescue operations.

Minister of Regional Development Viktor Ishayev said more than 17,000 people had been evacuated and "in the worst-case scenario up to 100,000 people could be evacuated."

In a video conference with regional leaders Putin was quoted by local news agencies as saying: "We should not relax, there is still an enormous amount of work."

"Large areas are flooded, telephone and electricity lines, roads and bridges have been damaged in dozens of towns. The damage is enormous," Putin added.

He promised that all damaged infrastructure would be repaired, and that while the situation was difficult it was "under control".

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said 3.2 billion rubles (73 million euros) had been put aside for the affected regions, according to the Interfax news agency.

Temporary shelters have been opened up, mostly in schools, to shelter evacuated residents.

Massive rains since the end of July saw the Amur River -- the longest in Siberia which borders northeastern China -- burst its banks, as well as one of its tributaries the Zeya.

Devastating floods last July in the town of Krymsk in the south west killed 172 people and raised questions about the authorities' handling of disasters.