MOSCOW, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- More than 121,000 civilians have been safely removed from nine border districts in the Kursk region, said Artyom Sharov, deputy spokesperson for the Emergencies Ministry, on Monday.
"Ever since the start of the evacuation process, we have successfully relocated over 121,000 individuals from the nine border districts. In just the last 24 hours, the number of people who have voluntarily left or were escorted in organized groups has exceeded 650," Sharov told a press conference.
The evacuation action is still going on, he added.
The displaced individuals are being directed to the care of their relatives or temporary shelters, he said, adding that 84 temporary shelters have been established in the Kursk region, providing refuge to over 6,500 individuals at this time.
According to him, a total of 120 temporary shelters are operating across 23 regions in Russia, housing about 3,000 people.
Meanwhile, 390 more temporary shelters, with a capacity to accommodate over 19,000 people, are prepared to receive the evacuees from the Kursk region in 57 different territories throughout Russia, he said. ■