Over 2000 homes flooded in Russia![]() April 12, 2012 - 16:52 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Spring floods have submerged 2,477 homes in Russia, up from 903 in the past 24 hours, the Emergencies Ministry said on Thursday, April 12, RIA Novosti reported. A total of 5,223 residents have been affected. Over 1,000 people, including 150 children had to be evacuated, the ministry said. The situation is the worst in the Republic of Tatarstan, and Saratov and Samara regions, as well as in parts of the Central and Volga Federal Districts, where 45 bridges, two dams and two sections of highways have been flooded. Over 4,700 towns are expected to be affected by floods in Yakutia, the Maritime, Khabarovsk and Krasnoyarsk Territories, and the Irkutsk region in Siberia. The risk zone includes some 1,900 highway sections, 378 railroad sections and 563 bridges. Partner news U.S. officials say they want to advance efforts to start talks between the Syrian government and opposition leaders. The international conference, backed by Russia and the U.S., aims to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria. Nuland, a career foreign service officer who was until recently State's top spokesperson, was expected to be nominated the post. Alkhatib said Assad should respond within 20 days and that he should then be given a month to dissolve parliament. Partner news |