Mass Floods Hit “Jewish Zone”

By COLlive and news wires

The worst flooding in 120 years in Russia’s Far East has already forced about 20,000 people from their homes and also made it necessary to airlift two captive brown bears to safety, AP reported.

According to the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry, the evacuations were underway in 3 regions along the Chinese border in the Far East, 3,000 miles east of Moscow.

One of the evacuated areas is Birobidjan, the Jewish autonomous zone.

The local Chabad Rabbi Eliyahu Rise noted that the synagogue and Ohr Avner Chabad School buildings have not been effected. He said the new school year will open as planned.

Responding to a request from Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia is preparing to send out clothing and financial aid to Jewish families.

The humanitarian aid will be distributed by Rabbi Rise in Birobidjan and by Rabbi Yakov Snetkov for the Jewish Community of Khabarovsk which was evacuated as well.

The flooding, set off by torrential rains, has already affected 140 towns and villages across the broad area, the ministry said. Television footage showed residents rowing boats past half-submerged houses and military vehicles dumping gravel to counter the floodwater.

“The damage is extensive, but the most significant achievement is there have been no casualties … we cannot relax, there is still a lot of work to be done,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said.