Floodwaters Rise in Russian Cities, Forcing Thousands to Flee

The Ural River, which flows into the Caspian Sea, burst through a dam embankment in Orsk, a city in the Orenburg region, on Friday, causing widespread flooding. The river swelled several meters in just hours, forcing over 4,000 people, including 885 children, to evacuate their homes. The city’s mayor, Sergei Salmin, warned that the flood situation remains critical and that the water is still rising.

The flooding has affected at least 6,000 homes, covered streets, and left many residents stranded. Footage published by the emergencies ministry showed people wading through neck-high waters, rescuing stranded dogs, and traveling along flooded roads in boats and canoes. State news agency Tass reported that six adults and three children had been hospitalized in Orsk, but their condition was not life-threatening.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a federal emergency in Orenburg and ordered the emergencies minister, Alexander Kurenkov, to fly to the region. Putin also spoke with the governors of the affected regions by phone, the Kremlin said. The Russian government has estimated the cost of flood damage at around 21 billion roubles ($227 million).

The flooding was caused by the dam’s inability to withstand the rising water level. Local health officials said vaccinations against hepatitis A were being conducted in flooded areas, and bottled water and mobile treatment plants were needed. The situation could worsen quickly, as flood warnings were issued in other Russian regions.

The dam in Orsk was built to withstand water levels of 5.5 meters, but the Ural River rose to 9.6 meters, causing the breach. Federal investigators opened a criminal case for negligence and the violation of safety rules over the dam’s construction, which was completed in 2010. The Orsk oil refinery suspended work due to the flooding, which is expected to last until at least 20 April.

The flooding has also affected neighboring Kazakhstan, with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev describing the disaster as the country’s largest natural disaster in terms of scale and impact for 80 years. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed sympathy to Putin, stating that “our people will always be with the Russian people.”

The recent floods are part of a larger pattern of severe flooding in Russia’s Ural Mountains and Siberia, which has affected parts of both countries. The situation remains critical, and rescue efforts are ongoing.