In Russia the calamity began when heavy rainfall caused a dam near Orsk, situated in the southern Urals near Kazakhstan, to rupture on Friday night. The breach unleashed water, inundating vast swathes of the region and threatening the lives and properties of thousands of residents.
Also Read: Scientists Discovered Colossal Ocean 700km Below Earth’s Crust
As the waters surged, authorities moved to evacuate more than 4,000 people from the affected areas. Among them were over 1,000 children.
Temporary accommodation centers for a 82,200 individuals were hastily prepared to shelter those displaced by the floods.
The devastation wrought by the floods is profound, with over 2,500 homes submerged under the rising waters.
Entire neighborhoods have been engulfed, leaving residents stranded and in need of rescue and assistance. The Orsk oil refinery, an economic asset, was forced to suspend operations in the face of the calamity.
The breach of a dam near Orsk, situated in the southern Urals near Kazakhstan, triggered the unfolding disaster.
Over 4,500 individuals have been evacuated from Orsk, with more than 6,500 homes flooded across the Orenburg region.
The city of Orsk, home to 200,000 people, has been particularly hard-hit, with images showing streets submerged and only the tops of cars visible.
The Russian government declared a “federal emergency” in the Orenburg region, with the Ural river posing a threat to Orsk and the larger city of Orenburg.
Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov has addressed the nature of the situation, urging timely evacuations and warning of changing flood conditions.
Also Read: Zimbabwe Declares State of Disaster as El Nino-Induced Drought
The situation in Orenburg, a regional hub with a population exceeding half a million, continues to deteriorate as water levels on the Ural river surge menacingly.
Mayor Sergei Salmin has sounded the alarm, cautioning of the impending danger as water levels are projected to reach perilous heights in the coming days. Authorities stand ready to enforce mandatory evacuations.
The catastrophic floods have not been confined to Russian territory alone, with neighboring Kazakhstan struggling with its own crisis.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has characterized the floods as one of Kazakhstan’s most severe natural disasters in over eight decades, prompting large-scale evacuations and mobilizing national resources.
Humanitarian efforts are underway to provide essential aid and support to affected populations, including access to safe drinking water and temporary shelter.
Questions arise regarding the integrity of the breached dam and the adequacy of maintenance protocols. Russian authorities have initiated a criminal investigation into possible negligence and violations of construction safety regulations pertaining to the dam’s integrity.
Also Read: 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Taiwan, 9 Dead and Over 900 Injured
