Chelyabinsk Region to announce emergency due to 2-month drought

CHELYABINSK, Jul 20 (PRIME) -- Russia's Chelyabinsk Region is preparing to declare a state of emergency because of a two-month drought, the regional government said in a statement on Monday.

"19 out of 21 agricultural districts have declared a state of emergency (in some of the regions there has been no precipitation since June). A state of emergency due to drought will soon be declared on the entire Chelyabinsk Region’s territory soon," the statement read.

The region will fall behind its grain harvest plan by 40%, according to preliminary estimates. Head of the region Alexei Texler said that the situation would cause significant direct damage. He said that the region must prepare documents for a federal compensation of the losses sustained by companies.

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