In response to a dam burst near the border with Kazakhstan, emergency services in Russia have undertaken extensive evacuation efforts, relocating nearly 4,500 individuals in the Orenburg region of the southern Urals. The incident occurred in the city of Orsk on Friday, prompting swift action from authorities as torrential rain exacerbated the situation.
According to the press service of the Orenburg governor, the evacuation efforts have encompassed 4,402 people, including 1,100 children, with over 6,000 homes affected by flooding. Concerned by the severity of the situation, President Vladimir Putin has directed Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov to oversee relief efforts in the region.
In addition to the evacuation measures, authorities have initiated a criminal case concerning negligence and violations of construction safety rules related to the dam, which was constructed in 2014. The region continues to grapple with challenging conditions, with authorities cautioning about dangerous water levels in the Ural River, particularly in the main city of Orenburg.
Sergei Salmin, the mayor of Orenburg, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that forcible evacuations may be necessary if residents refuse to leave flooded areas voluntarily. Highlighting the escalating water levels in the Ural River, Salmin urged immediate action to mitigate risks.
The gravity of the situation has also drawn attention from neighbouring Kazakhstan, with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev characterizing the floods as one of the most severe natural disasters the country has faced in 80 years. Tokayev called for readiness among Kazakh authorities to assist those affected by the calamity.
Images released by Russian emergency services depict rescue workers navigating flooded villages using boats and hovercrafts, underscoring the magnitude of the relief efforts underway. The incident adds to the challenges faced by several regions in the Urals and western Siberia, which have been grappling with floods since the onset of spring.