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ULAN BATOR, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Floods have claimed 13 lives in Mongolia since spring, according to the National Emergency Management Authority of Mongolia on Tuesday.
The capital city of Ulan Bator is suffering from continuous rain that started on Monday night. Earlier, floods hit Ulaankhus county in western Bayan-Ulgii province and a dozen people have been rescued from the flooded river Khovd.
The Mongolian meteorological institute warned that most rivers in the western and central part of the country have risen to dangerous levels and more heavy rain is expected in these areas.
Rescuers from the emergency authority have been mobilized to rescue people from flood-hit areas and repair flood dams that have been damaged by the flood.
Mongolia's Deputy Prime Minister Oyunbaatar Tserendash on Tuesday warned the public about flood risks and assigned the emergency management departments across the country to evacuate households and residents in flood-prone areas.
During summer in rural areas, Mongolian herders often reside along river basins and mountain slopes and therefore face high flood risks.
As Mongolia lacks an early flood warning system, it is often caught unprepared for sudden flash floods caused by a quick downpour. Enditem.
