Flooding Crisis Engulfs Russia and Kazakhstan in Unprecedented Disaster

The worst flooding in the region for at least 70 years has left a trail of devastation in its wake. The swift melting of snow has swelled river levels beyond bursting point, forcing over 100,000 people to evacuate in Russia and Kazakhstan. Local officials reported that the Ural and Tobol rivers, which flow through the affected areas, have risen by several meters in a matter of hours to record-breaking levels.

The situation is dire, with sirens warning of imminent flooding in Kurgan and Tyumen, major cities in the affected regions. Emergency declarations have been issued in both cities, which are home to hundreds of thousands of people. The Ural river, Europe’s third-largest, burst through an embankment dam on Friday, flooding the city of Orsk and threatening the nearby city of Orenburg.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia has spoken with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan to coordinate relief efforts. Tokayev described the flooding as probably the worst in 80 years, affecting millions of people in both countries. The most severely hit areas are along the borders of Russia and Kazakhstan, where rivers originating in Russia have overflowed their banks.

Frustration is growing among those affected, with many accusing local officials of not doing enough to prepare for the disaster. In Orsk, at least 100 people gathered to demand help from the Kremlin, chanting “shame on you” at local officials. The Kremlin has assured that Putin is being kept updated on the situation, but has no plans to visit the flood zone as local and emergency officials are doing their best to cope with the deluge.

Drone footage from Kurgan shows traditional Russian wooden houses and Russian Orthodox churches surrounded by water, while in Orenburg, people are paddling along roads as if they were rivers. Dams and embankments are being strengthened as the Ural river rises to nearly 10 meters high.

Russian officials have warned that some people have ignored calls to evacuate, and the Kurgan governor has urged residents to take the warnings seriously. “It is hard to leave your possessions and move somewhere at the call of the local authorities,” the governor said. “But let’s do it alive.”

As the situation continues to unfold, scientists have pointed out that climate change has made flooding more frequent worldwide. While the exact reason for this year’s particularly severe flooding is unclear, the consequences are devastating and far-reaching.