Major flood struck Orsk city, near the Kazakhstan border, after a dam burst, causing Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov to declare a “critical” situation. Over 4,500 homes were flooded, and more than 4,000 people evacuated to temporary shelters.
The dam, built in 2014, collapsed due to heavy rain, leading to authorities opening a criminal case for negligence. The Ural River’s water level rose beyond the dam’s capacity, posing risks to nearby Orenburg city.
The situation prompted a federal emergency response, with reinforcements and funds allocated. Melting ice worsened the flood, surpassing the dam’s intended water management capacity.
Orenburg’s mayor warned its half-million residents of potential evacuations as water levels continued to rise. Weather forecasts indicated a peak level by Wednesday.
Kazakhstan also faced severe flooding, termed one of its worst natural disasters in 80 years by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Floods have affected several regions in the Urals and western Siberia since spring began