A major flood in the Russian city of Orsk forced thousands of people to evacuate, with Moscow reporting a “critical” situation Sunday and warning of dangerous water levels in Siberia. Russia has declared a “federal emergency” in the southern Orenburg region, where the Ural River has flooded Orsk and is now threatening the main city of Orenburg. Torrential rain caused a dam near Orsk to burst, resulting in severe flooding in the area. More heavy rainfall is expected to cause water levels to rise even further. Authorities have evacuated over 4,500 people from Orsk and reported more than 6,500 homes flooded throughout the Orenburg region.
While Orsk, a city of 200,000 people, is the worst affected by the flooding, water levels in the Ural River are also rising rapidly in the regional hub of Orenburg, home to around 560,000 residents. Russian Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov visited the flooded city of Orsk, emphasizing the need for timely evacuations. The flood situation is evolving rapidly, with officials expecting the peak of the flood on April 9 and stabilization by April 20. The mayor of Orenburg warned of dangerous water levels over the next three days and has ordered evacuations in affected areas. The situation remains critical, with hundreds of homes affected by flooding in Orenburg.
President Vladimir Putin ordered preparations for expected floods in Siberia’s Kurgan and Tyumen regions as authorities reported “abnormal increases in water levels” not seen in 100 years. Putin, who was once a climate skeptic, has now prioritized preparing Russia for extreme weather due to climate change. Russia has been experiencing a rise in extreme weather events such as floods and fires in recent years. Scientists attribute this to climate change caused by human activity, leading to longer, more intense, and more frequent extreme weather occurrences. Neighboring Kazakhstan has also been impacted by the floods, with its president labeling it as one of the country’s worst natural disasters in 80 years.
The flood situation in Orsk and Orenburg has prompted the Russian government to declare a federal emergency in the area. Thousands of people have been evacuated, and homes in both cities have been flooded due to heavy rainfall and a burst dam near Orsk. The flood waters continue to rise, prompting warnings of dangerous levels and the need for immediate evacuations to safeguard lives and property. Russian authorities are closely monitoring the situation and providing support to those affected by the floods. Continued heavy rainfall is expected to worsen the situation, with authorities preparing for the peak of the flood and taking necessary measures to stabilize the region.
Efforts are ongoing to address the flooding in Orsk and Orenburg, with officials working to ensure the safety and well-being of residents in the affected areas. The Russian government has mobilized resources to respond to the crisis, with President Putin receiving real-time updates on the flood situation and ordering preparations for potential floods in other regions. Climate change is exacerbating extreme weather events in Russia, leading to floods, fires, and other natural disasters. The government is focusing on increasing preparedness and resilience to mitigate the impact of such events and protect the population. The floods in Orsk and Orenburg serve as a reminder of the urgent need to address the challenges posed by climate change and its impact on communities around the world.
