Moscow Floods Displace Thousands in Kazakhstan and Russia
MOSCOW — In a dramatic turn of events, tens of thousands of individuals have been forced to evacuate from 10 northern regions in Kazakhstan due to severe flooding caused by melting snow, as confirmed by authorities.
The unprecedented flooding has wreaked havoc in the area, prompting drastic measures to ensure the safety of residents. Meanwhile, just across the border in Russia, an oil refinery in the city of Orsk, located 1,800km southeast of Moscow, has been compelled to cease operations due to the devastating floods.
The Kremlin has issued a grave warning, asserting that water levels in certain areas are escalating at an alarming rate, surpassing records set over the past century. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov disclosed that President Putin has instructed governors in the Siberian regions of Tyumen and Kurgan to brace themselves for an imminent surge in water levels and inevitable floods.
As a precautionary measure, Russian authorities have evacuated nearly 4,500 individuals from the Orenburg region, surrounding Orsk. During a visit to Orsk on Sunday, Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov sounded the alarm, highlighting the critical situation unfolding after a dam breach on Friday.
Russia’s meteorological agency has issued a stark warning, predicting that water levels on the Ural river in Orenburg will reach perilous heights within the next three days. Regional authorities anticipate the flood’s peak on Tuesday, with stabilization expected post-20 April.
Meanwhile, in Kazakhstan, the Emergency Ministry reported on Sunday that approximately 12,000 individuals are currently housed in temporary shelters. Furthermore, rescue teams have successfully relocated around 60,000 farm animals to safer areas.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed deep concern, labeling the disaster as the worst natural calamity to strike Kazakhstan in 80 years. In a televised address to the nation, Tokayev assured the public that the government is intensifying efforts to alleviate the flood’s impact and pledged to provide all necessary assistance. — BBC
