Russian City of Orenburg Braces for Devastating Floods
MOSCOW — The normally peaceful city of Orenburg in Russia is on high alert as rivers in the region swell to dangerous levels, threatening widespread flooding that could devastate the area.
The unprecedented floods are a result of the melting snow from the Ural Mountains, causing evacuations and chaos throughout the affected regions.
Over the weekend, the Ural River, the third-longest river in Europe, breached a dam embankment in the city of Orsk, further worsening the situation.
In Orenburg, a city with a population of 500,000 located about 300km (180 miles) downstream, authorities are preparing for water levels to reach record highs.
Several areas in the Urals, western Siberia, and the Volga basin have already been submerged, with over 10,000 homes underwater, according to the Emergency Ministry.
“An increase in air temperatures, active snow melt, and river openings are all contributing to the crisis,” the Ministry stated.
In Orenburg, approximately 1,500km (930 miles) southeast of Moscow, the Ural River is expected to peak on Wednesday at levels never seen before.
“Everyone within the flood zone must evacuate their homes immediately,” urged Mayor Sergei Salmin on Monday.
So far, around 6,000 individuals have been evacuated in the Orenburg region, with neighboring regions of Kurgan and Tyumen also declaring a state of emergency and urging residents to evacuate flood-prone areas.
President Vladimir Putin has directed the government to establish a commission to address the emergency situation, as the city of Orsk, already severely impacted, saw residents protesting against the official response on Monday.
Social media footage captured about 100 individuals chanting “Shame!” and “Putin, help”, highlighting a rare display of dissent in Russia.
Meanwhile, across the border in Kazakhstan, tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from 10 regions as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described the crisis as the worst natural disaster in the country in 80 years. — BBC
