VLADIVOSTOK, Far East ) -- The energy crisis deepened in Russia's Far East Saturday, with the mayor of one town declaring a state of emergency and telling residents to get ready for possible evacuation.


Anatoly Karasev said the nearby town of Nakhodka already is preparing to accept "new settlers'' from Bolshoi Kamen, a town of 30,000, Itar-Tass said.


Fuel shortages in Bolshoi Kamen were blamed on a local shipyard repairing nuclear submarines.