Russian city cuts water as chemical spill nears

Authorities in the Russian far eastern city of Khabarovsk today cut off water supplies to 10,000 inhabitants as a Chinese toxic slick floated downriver toward it.

Regional officials said tests conducted in the Amur River which flows past the city and provides it with all its water supplies so far had not detected chemicals above maximum permissible levels.

But the residents of three southern districts woke up to find notices pinned outside their apartment blocks with a list of hazardous chemicals potentially in the water supply and their effects, warning them not to try and siphon hot water from their central heating radiators.