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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Flood fear forces US evacuations | Flood fear forces US evacuations |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Thousands of people have been asked to evacuate their homes in the US Midwest, as the swollen Red River reaches its highest levels for 112 years. | Thousands of people have been asked to evacuate their homes in the US Midwest, as the swollen Red River reaches its highest levels for 112 years. |
| Rising waters have breached a dyke in Fargo, North Dakota, where about 400 people have already left their homes. | Rising waters have breached a dyke in Fargo, North Dakota, where about 400 people have already left their homes. |
| And officials in neighbouring Moorhead want 2,660 homes there to be evacuated. | And officials in neighbouring Moorhead want 2,660 homes there to be evacuated. |
| Nancy Ward, acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has been dispatched to Fargo. The river is due to reach its highest level later. | Nancy Ward, acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has been dispatched to Fargo. The river is due to reach its highest level later. |
| On Friday the river swelled to previously unseen heights - surpassing the record of 40.1ft (12.2m) set in 1897 in Fargo. | On Friday the river swelled to previously unseen heights - surpassing the record of 40.1ft (12.2m) set in 1897 in Fargo. |
| See a map of the affected area | See a map of the affected area |
| Amid fears that Moorhead and Fargo could be deluged, President Barack Obama sent Ms Ward to oversee the towns' preparations. | Amid fears that Moorhead and Fargo could be deluged, President Barack Obama sent Ms Ward to oversee the towns' preparations. |
| 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 |
| The president issued a federal disaster declaration for parts of Minnesota and the entire state of North Dakota earlier this week. | The president 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. |
| Across the river in Moorhead, Minnesota, officials asked for 2,660 homes to be evacuated - but Minnesota state's laws do not permit mandatory evacuations. | Across the river in Moorhead, Minnesota, officials asked for 2,660 homes to be evacuated - but Minnesota state's laws do not permit mandatory evacuations. |
| 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 in Fargo, 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 in Fargo, adding that a contingency dyke had been built behind it. |
| North Dakota residents are trying to keep back the flood waters.Enlarge Image | |
| 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. |
| Experts say the huge rise in the river's levels was caused by an unusually cold winter, followed by a very quick thaw and heavy rain. | Experts say the huge rise in the river's levels was caused by an unusually cold winter, followed by a very quick thaw and heavy rain. |
| And the Red River flows north into icy conditions, making it less able to cope with rising levels than most rivers in the US, which flow south and widen out as they reach warmer climates. | |
| 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 |
| Are you in the area? Are you affected by the flood waters? Are you concerned for friends and family? Send us your comments using the form below | Are you in the area? Are you affected by the flood waters? Are you concerned for friends and family? Send us your comments using the form below |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |