Russia on High Alert as Floodwaters Rise in Orenburg
MOSCOW — The situation in Orenburg and its surrounding areas is escalating rapidly as floodwaters continue to surge, causing chaos and devastation.
Russian officials are on edge as the Ural river near Orenburg reached a staggering height of over 10m (33ft), surpassing its breaking point. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov issued a stark warning on Wednesday, stating that “large amounts of water are flowing into new regions.”
This deluge marks the most severe flooding to hit the region in eight decades, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes in southern Russia. Neighboring Kazakhstan is also grappling with the crisis, with the number of evacuees soaring to 97,000.
Entire villages have been swallowed by the overflowing rivers, with approximately 2,000 homes inundated in Orenburg. The city, located 1,500km (930 miles) southeast of Moscow and home to 550,000 people, is facing a critical situation as water levels continue to rise.
Peskov painted a grim picture of the ongoing crisis, stating that the forecast remains unfavorable. He emphasized that the floodwaters would soon reach the nearby regions of Kurgan and Tyumen, necessitating urgent and vigorous action from government authorities at all levels to aid the affected populace.
Despite the dire circumstances, President Vladimir Putin has no plans to visit the flood-stricken zone. Instead, he is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating the response efforts across different branches of government.
Last week, a catastrophic combination of rapidly melting snow and ice caused several rivers, including the Ural river – Europe’s third largest, to breach their banks. Orsk, situated 300km (180 miles) downstream from Orenburg, experienced flooding when a dam embankment gave way. Authorities have stabilized the situation in Orsk for now.
The Ural river flows through Orsk into Kazakhstan and eventually empties into the Caspian Sea. The floodwaters are now posing a threat to multiple areas in northern Kazakhstan, with many dams and reservoirs reaching full capacity.
Regional leader Gauez Nurmukhambetov issued a stark warning about the impending danger facing the city of Petropavlovsk, home to 200,000 residents. He emphasized the magnitude of the impending flood, urging preparedness and swift action.
President Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev has called for unity in Kazakhstan to confront what he described as potentially the “most significant disaster in over 80 years in terms of scale and impact.”
