Flint, Michigan water contamination: Obama declares emergency

The city’s water became contaminated after a change in supplier in 2014. Corrosive water leached lead from old pipes into the water supply.

The emergency declaration will unlock $5m (£3.5m) in federal funding.

Earlier in the week, Governor Rick Snyder had requested $31m from the federal government.

He said the need in the city of almost 100,000 people “far exceeds the state’s capability” and sought a disaster declaration. CONTINUE