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Flood fear forces US evacuations Flood fear forces US evacuations
(about 1 hour 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 by President Obama to oversee operations.
On Friday, the river swelled to previously unseen heights - surpassing the record of 40.1ft (12.2m) set in 1897 in Fargo. name="top"> class="bodl" href="#map"> See a map of the affected area On Friday, the river swelled to previously unseen heights - surpassing the record of 40.1ft (12.2m) set in 1897 in Fargo - and its level is expected to peak on Sunday.
name="top"> class="bodl" href="#map"> See a map of the affected area Having issued a federal disaster declaration for parts of Minnesota and the entire state of North Dakota earlier this week, Mr Obama assured concerned residents he was abreast of the situation.
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
The president issued a federal disaster declaration for parts of Minnesota and the entire state of North Dakota earlier this week.
Mr Obama assured concerned residents that he was monitoring the situation carefully.
"Even as we face an economic crisis which demands our constant focus, forces of nature can also intervene in ways that create other crises to which we must respond - and respond urgently," said Mr Obama."Even as we face an economic crisis which demands our constant focus, forces of nature can also intervene in ways that create other crises to which we must respond - and respond urgently," said Mr Obama.
In his weekly radio and internet address, Mr Obama pledged the federal government would do whatever was necessary to avert a crisis. In his weekly radio and internet address, the president pledged the federal government would do whatever was necessary to avert a crisis.
Leaking through cracks Levels rising
Authorities in Fargo evacuated about 150 homes in the early hours of Friday, along with hospitals, clinics and a county jail. As water levels rose in Fargo:
More than two million sandbags are being used in the the city to build a makeshift flood wall to try to protect the 90,000 people who live there. href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1238226882/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1238226882/html/1.stm', '1238226928', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=600,height=494,left=312,top=100'); return false;">North Dakota residents are trying to keep back the flood waters. href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1238226882/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1238226882/html/1.stm', '1238226928', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=600,height=494,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image
    class="bulletList" >
  • >Authorities evacuated 150 homes as well as hospitals, clinics and a county jail
  • >Two million sandbags were used to build a makeshift dam to try to protect the city's 90,000 residents
  • >Some 1,850 national guards were monitoring the status of dams in the city
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. href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1238226882/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1238226882/html/1.stm', '1238226928', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=600,height=494,left=312,top=100'); return false;">North Dakota residents are trying to keep back the flood waters. href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1238226882/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1238226882/html/1.stm', '1238226928', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=600,height=494,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image 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.
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. Explosives are being used to try and break up gigantic ice jams that are blocking the river and causing water levels to rise even higher, says the BBC's Jon Donnison in Washington.
Some 800 guards are being brought in to monitor the dykes, in addition to the 900 already in place, the mayor of Fargo said.
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.
Explosives are being used to try and break up the gigantic ice jams that are blocking the river and causing water levels to rise even higher, says the BBC's Jon Donnison in Washington.
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.
The Red River is now 7m above flooding level, already the highest level in history and its still rising. The Red River is now 7m above flooding level, already the highest level in history, and it is still rising, our correspondent says.
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