Russia's government has declared a federal emergency in flood-hit areas of the Orenburg region due to rising water levels in the Ural River. Over 4,000 people, including 885 children, have been evacuated, with 2,000 homes flooded in the region, totaling nearly 6,300 affected residences. The estimated damage from the flood is around 21 billion rubles ($227 million).
Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov arrived in Orsk, one of the hardest-hit cities, to oversee rescue operations. The situation has been classified as a federal emergency, allowing for federal assistance to supplement local efforts.
Orsk, near the Kazakhstan border, experienced severe flooding after a dam broke, resulting in 4,500 flooded residential buildings out of 200,000 in the city. A criminal probe has been initiated to investigate potential construction violations related to the dam break.
While four deaths were reported in Orsk, they were deemed unrelated to the flooding. In the regional capital of Orenburg, water levels rose significantly, leading to the flooding of over 1,300 homes and the evacuation of 428 individuals.
Footage from Orsk and Orenburg shows streets submerged in water, affecting numerous single-story houses. The federal emergency designation highlights the risk of flooding extending beyond the Orenburg region.
Preventative evacuations have begun in the neighboring Samara region, with around 820 people relocated. President Vladimir Putin has been in contact with officials to discuss measures for assisting affected individuals and potential evacuations.
Precautionary evacuations are also underway in two districts of the Kurgan region. The Ural River, spanning over 2,400 kilometers, flows through Russia and Kazakhstan, posing challenges for multiple regions along its path.
