MOSCOW, September 4 (RIA Novosti) - Two Mi-26 heavy-lift helicopters have been redeployed from the Central Military District to Russia’s flood-hit Far East region, a military district official said Wednesday.
The helicopters will help evacuate people, transport cargo, and deliver much-needed food and medicine as part of ongoing rescue efforts. The Mi-26 can carry up to 20 tons, including trucks and other heavy and outside equipment.
Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev on Tuesday said that a further 36,000 people will need to be evacuated from the area as floodwaters continue to rise.
Trutnev was appointed deputy prime minister and presidential envoy to the Far East by President Vladimir Putin on Saturday. Speaking Tuesday, he said that almost 16,000 people have already been evacuated and 98,800 people have been affected by the ongoing flooding on the Amur River. In total there are about 45,000 people taking part in rescue work in flood-hit areas, he added.
