Film-maker Michael Moore, who is from Flint, attended a rally in the city on Saturday.
Credit: Jake May/The Flint Journal

US President Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency in Flint, Michigan, where the water has become contaminated with lead.

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.

But reports in Michigan said Mr Obama denied that request, that would have freed up more than the $5m, as such declarations are only made for natural disasters.

In October, testing revealed increased lead levels in water supplies and in children’s blood. Lead exposure can cause learning disabilities and behavioural problems in children.

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