Flooding in Eastern Russia Causes 20,000 to Evacuate [VIDEO]

Russia's Far East is inundated with floodwater and the country's government declared a state of emergency Sunday, ordering nearly 20,000 people to evacuate flood-soaked regions.

More than 34,000 people in 124 towns in eastern Russia have been affected by the flooding as rain continues to fall on the region. Water levels in the Amur River near the city of Khabarovsk exceeded 21 feet by Sunday night, exceeding the historic record, the Bloomberg News agency reported, citing Russia's Emergency Ministry.

Raging flood waters recently destroyed a dam, causing 60 homes to be inundated, according to Russia Today.

As of Sunday, five regions had declared a state of emergency. The Emergencies Ministry called for 19,211 people to be evacuated from the Amur, Khabarovsk and Jewish Autonomous regions.

"We have never seen such a large-scale flood in our country's history," said Alexander Frolov, chief forecaster at Russia's weather center, according to Bloomberg.

Forlov said the flooding had likely reached its peak in the Amur regions but is expected to worsen in other regions.

With roads flooded, locals and emergency responders must use boats to get around. Thousands of emergency workers and military troops are in the region assisting.

"Water beneath me is three meters deep, and all around you can just see rooftops and treetops sticking out from above the water. We've even just come across a couple who were preparing their dinner on the roof, some of the steadfast few who at the moment refused to leave their homes," Russia Today, which sent a fim crew to the region, reported a man called "Thomas" saying.

Authorities report the flooding as already cost 2 billion rubles ($61 million) in damages.

The news comes at the same time researchers released a report suggesting that by 2050 economic damages from flooding will exceed $50 billion.

The report highlighted the effects on coastal cities, with Guangzhou, China; Guayaquil, Ecuador; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and Abidjan, Ivory Coast listed among the most vulnerable.

No parts of Russia made the study's list of flood-vulnerable regions.