Unprecedented flooding in Ural regions prompts mass evacuations
12 April 2024 13:00
The water level of the Ural River in Orenburg, Russia, has surged to over 36 feet, causing unprecedented flooding across southern Ural regions. The situation is particularly severe in Orenburg, prompting authorities to evacuate residents and declare an emergency.
The Ural River's water level sees a sharp increase - "Unfortunately, the water level spiked last night to 36 feet," explained Orenburg's Deputy Mayor, Alexei Kudinov. He further reported that 900 plots and 361 homes were submerged in Orenburg alone, leading to the evacuation of 99 residents. The flood is expected to reach its zenith on Friday.
Kudinov also refuted rumors of blockages in the Ural River near the car bridge. "Currently, there are no obstructions in the Ural River near Orenburg. The Samara River's level is stable, showing no signs of a backwater. We're witnessing a gradual stabilization with the hourly rise in the Ural River's level decreasing," he added.
Not just the Ural: Tobol River swells by 4.6 feet
Warnings have also been issued in the Kurgan and Tyumen regions, with some areas starting preemptive evacuations. According to Reuters, the Kaminskoje area in the Kurgan region was evacuated on Friday morning. The region's governor, Vadim Shumkov, communicated through Telegram that the Tobol River's level sharply rose by 4.6 feet overnight. Notably, the Tobol River runs through the city of Kurgan, home to 300,000 people, and it's feared the floodwaters might reach the city in the next few days.
The largest flood in decades
In the Orenburg region, located on the Kazakhstan border, a dam that shielded Orsk from the Ural River waters gave way last week. This led to a massive evacuation of residents from the Old Town and a declared state of emergency in the region. The estimated damage from the flood could ascend to 21 billion rubles.
According to the independent Russian television Nastojaszczeje Wriemia, as reported on Wednesday by PAP, the flood in the Orenburg region has claimed at least five lives. Over 10,000 homes have been impacted by this disaster. The regions faced with this unprecedented flooding are in disarray, with residents criticizing the authorities for their lack of action, inefficiency, and neglect.
