Flooding still a problem in North Ostrobothnia, Finland

Waters continued rising Friday in the lower reaches of the Oulujoki and Siikajoki rivers. Fields and roads have flooded in the region in the wake of unusually heavy rainfall.

At Mankila, along the Siikajoki river, flood waters have covered up to 3,000 hectares of farmland, while roads in the area have been blocked and livestock trapped by high waters.

Even if no more heavy rains are seen, water levels in Lake Oulujärvi are expected to remain unusually high all autumn.

So far this month, 120 mm of rain has fallen in the catchment area of the Oulujoki river. That is equivalent to nearly 150% of the entire average August rainfall.

In some rivers in the region, measured flows are higher than registered during a summer in 100 years.

Regional emergency services officials believe that flood waters will start receding this weekend, but that many smaller roads will still be closed on Monday.

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