Federal state of emergency introduced in flood-hit Omsk region - Russian Emergency Situations Ministry

MOSCOW. May 17 (Interfax) - A federal state of emergency has been introduced in the Omsk region by a decision of the government commission led by Russian Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov due to the flooding, the ministry's press service said on Friday.

The request was made to the minister by the region's governor, Vitaly Khotsenko.

"The flood situation in the Omsk region has been classed as a federal emergency by a decision of the government commission led by Kurenkov," the press service said.

The state of emergency was introduced in the region to minimize the consequences of the floods in populated areas and on infrastructure facilities, as well as for prompt work to deal with the flood's aftermath, it said.

According to the most recent information, 210 residential buildings and more than 370 household plots were flooded in the settlement of Ust-Ishim.

Russian Emergency Situations Ministry rescue workers continue to evacuate people from the flood-hit territories. More than 2,000 people have already been taken to safe districts.