Russia says 'colossal' amount of river water approaching Siberian city

Russian authorities said Monday that a "colossal" amount of river water was flowing fast towards the west Siberian city of Kurgan and called for the immediate evacuation of some districts.

 Russia and Kazakkstan have been battling devastating floods that have already forced the evacuation of thousands of people and are expected to peak this week on the Tobol and Ishim rivers.

The warning to the city of some 310,000 people came as the neighbouring Tyumen region also prepared for the worst of the floods, while water had began to retreat in parts of the southern Urals.

Kurgan governor Vadim Shumkov said the head of the flood was "10 kilometres (six miles) away from the city."

"The amount of water is colossal," he said.