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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Red River hits record high in US | Red River hits record high in US |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Red River in the mid-Western US has reached its highest level in 112 years and is expected to keep on rising, US authorities say. | The Red River in the mid-Western US has reached its highest level in 112 years and is expected to keep on rising, US authorities say. |
| It rose to 40.63ft (12.4m) at 1615 GMT, exceeding the previous record of 40.1ft set in 1897 in Fargo, North Dakota. | It rose to 40.63ft (12.4m) at 1615 GMT, exceeding the previous record of 40.1ft set in 1897 in Fargo, North Dakota. |
| Scores more residents were ordered to evacuate their homes as the rising waters breached one of the dykes. | Scores more residents were ordered to evacuate their homes as the rising waters breached one of the dykes. |
| President Barack Obama has sent Nancy Ward, acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to Fargo. | President Barack Obama has sent Nancy Ward, acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to Fargo. |
| See a map of the affected area | See a map of the affected area |
| We want to go down swinging if we go down Dennis WalakerFargo Mayor | We want to go down swinging if we go down Dennis WalakerFargo Mayor |
| He issued a federal disaster declaration for parts of Minnesota and the entire state of North Dakota earlier this week. | He issued a federal disaster declaration for parts of Minnesota and the entire state of North Dakota earlier this week. |
| Authorities in Fargo evacuated around 150 homes in the early hours of Friday, along with hospitals, clinics and a county jail. | Authorities in Fargo evacuated around 150 homes in the early hours of Friday, along with hospitals, clinics and a county jail. |
| Evacuations were also carried out across the river in Moorhead, Minnesota. | Evacuations were also carried out across the river in Moorhead, Minnesota. |
| A spokesman for the US Army Corps of Engineers said a small amount of water was leaking through a crack in one of the dykes, adding that a contingency dyke had been built behind it. | A spokesman for the US Army Corps of Engineers said a small amount of water was leaking through a crack in one of the dykes, adding that a contingency dyke had been built behind it. |
| Some 800 guards are being brought in to monitor the dykes, in addition to the 900 already in place, the mayor of Fargo said. | Some 800 guards are being brought in to monitor the dykes, in addition to the 900 already in place, the mayor of Fargo said. |
| "We want to go down swinging if we go down," Mayor Dennis Walaker told reporters. | "We want to go down swinging if we go down," Mayor Dennis Walaker told reporters. |
| Several factors are said to be behind the river's historic rise. The unusually cold winter left a snowpack sitting on top of frozen ground that could not absorb it. | Several factors are said to be behind the river's historic rise. The unusually cold winter left a snowpack sitting on top of frozen ground that could not absorb it. |
| This was followed by a warm snap with heavy rain, which melted the snow and sent it toward the north-flowing river. | This was followed by a warm snap with heavy rain, which melted the snow and sent it toward the north-flowing river. |
| More snow is forecast to fall on the Red River valley in the coming days, and rain next week could worsen flood conditions. | More snow is forecast to fall on the Red River valley in the coming days, and rain next week could worsen flood conditions. |
| Return to top | Return to top |
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