Russia floods: Record water levels threaten Orenburg city
As rivers swell, many citizens in the Russian city of Orenburg are bracing for widespread flooding.
The seasonal floods have been far worse than usual, caused by melting snow from the Ural Mountains, triggering evacuations throughout the area.
The Ural River, Europe’s third-longest, burst through a dam embankment in the city of Orsk at the weekend. The river is expected to reach unprecedented levels, peaking on Wednesday.
Orenburg, a city of 500,000, downstream, waters are expected to reach record levels.
🚨🇷🇺 URAL FLOODS: DOZENS OF TOWNS SUBMERGED
— Adnan Belushi (@adnanbelushi) April 8, 2024
Several dam failures led to a severe flood, causing approximately 7,000 households to evacuate in Orenburg oblast, at the heart of Russia's vital industrial Ural region.
Reports indicate that the floodwaters have reached Orenburg… pic.twitter.com/ltnuEHAM85
Floods have hit parts of Urals, western Siberia and the Volga basin. More than 10,000 homes are underwater, according to the emergency ministry.
“An increase in air temperatures, active snow melt and river openings are predicted,” the ministry said in a statement.
“Absolutely everyone who is in the flood zone needs to leave their homes,” Mayor Sergei Salmin said on Monday.
About 6,000 people have already been evacuated.