KABETOGEMA (AP) — Authorities say a major sandbagging operation is under way on Lake Kabetogama in far northern Minnesota.

The director of homeland security and emergency management for the St. Louis County sheriff's office, Steve Steblay, says the lake level rose sharply over the weekend. He says crews are sandbagging homes, resorts and roads to protect them. He says a large percentage of the resort and private docks and shoreline structures such as boathouses on Kabetogama are gone or have been destroyed.

Steblay says the water is creeping up on several resorts in the area and will reach lodges and cabins if they're not sandbagged soon.

Lake Kabetogama is one of four major lakes that make up Voyageurs National Park. It flows into Namakan Lake then Rainy Lake.

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