Unprecedented floods in Orenburg: 400,000 seek compensation

Approximately 400,000 compensation claims have been submitted by residents of the Orenburg region in response to severe flooding. The dominant cause of this catastrophe is the abrupt arrival of warm spring weather, which led to rapid snowmelt and a swift increase in river levels.

Russia has been facing significant flooding challenges for several days. The flooding has predominantly affected the Orenburg region through the swelling of the Ural River. It has also impacted areas along the Ishim River, affecting the Siberian regions of Tyumen, Omsk, and northern Kazakhstan, as these rivers have also burst their banks.

The entire length of the Ural River, which stretches for about 2,400 kilometres, has seen flooding. This incident marks the most severe flood event in the Orenburg region in decades. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of Kazakhstan, has also noted that the flooding in his country is likely the worst in 80 years.

According to press services from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation, reported by TASS, 400,000 applications for compensation payments have been received from residents of the Orenburg region so far. Many have reached out directly to Vladimir Putin, seeking his assistance.

About 400,000 requests for financial assistance have been lodged by inhabitants of the Orenburg region. Thus far, over 10 million pounds have been distributed, with operations to review applications and assess damages continuing daily. Each applicant receives targeted support in preparing the necessary documents, as stated by the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

In Orenburg, 51 damage assessment commissions are in operation. The Ministry of Emergency Situations has highlighted that, as the waters recede, all homes within the flood zone will undergo inspection. Over 150 individuals are involved in these operations.

"The speed at which lists are compiled and the effectiveness of the work to assess disaster-related damages will determine how swiftly the affected population receives the necessary financial assistance" we read.

As of April 22 in Orsk, the water level on the Ural decreased by 15 centimetres in a day to 49 metres, and in Orenburg, it fell by 66 centimetres to 94 metres.

The primary cause of the flooding is the sudden onset of warm spring weather, which has led to a rapid melting of the winter snow and the swift filling of rivers. The volume of water has been so great that it has inundated surrounding villages and towns, creating a severe situation.

More than half of this year's floods in the region have occurred in this manner, one third are due to heavy rainfall, and about 15 percent are caused by ice jams in the rivers, reported Maria Szagedanova, a climatologist from the University of Reading.