The situation in the Zeya district in the Amur Region, where dozens of houses have been inundated, is gradually returning to normal.

The level of the Zeya reservoir went down four centimetres over the past 24 hours and 12 centimetres over the past three days, a source at the Emergencies Ministry's Far Eastern regional centre told Itar-Tass.

The volume of water falling from the Zeya hydroelectric station is 4,800 cubic metres a second, while the inflow to the reservoir is 3,500 cubic metres a second.

The Zeya River level is also going down. Over the past 24 hours, the level was down five centimetres near the city of Zeya and the villages of Alexandrovka and Nikolayevka, six centimetres near the village of Algach, seven centimetres near the village of Umlekan, ten centimetres near the village of Chalbachi and twelve centimetres near the village of Yubileiny. The water level went down 35-40 centimetres near the village of Ovsyanka.

The situation is normal now near other residential areas that may be flooded.

Houses remain inundated in the village of Ovsyanka, in lower parts of the city of Zeya and the villages of Zarechnaya Sloboda and Bonmak -- a total of 74 houses are in the flooded zone now.

The situation is monitored in the Zeya district day and night. Rescuers remain in all the residential areas that may be inundated. They have everything necessary for evacuation operations. Rescuers every day examine houses and other constructions in the flooded zone, measure water levels and help people. They deliver food products and medicines if necessary.

The special government commission had a meeting on Saturday. The commission decided that the outflow from the Zeya reservoir should remain on the same level of about 4,700 cubic metres a second till August 1. The commission was satisfied with the organisation of operations in the flood-hit zone.