Floodwaters in Orenburg, Russia, Surge to Critical Levels, Prompting Urgent Evacuations
In the Russian city of Orenburg, flooding has reached alarming heights, with water levels soaring up to two meters above critical thresholds, leaving only the rooftops of some houses visible. The mayor of the city has issued urgent calls for residents to evacuate as sirens blare throughout the area.
The situation is anticipated to worsen, with Orenburg expected to experience its peak flooding by Friday. Neighboring regions are bracing for the impact as the floods are projected to spread in the coming days and weeks.
Kazakhstan is also grappling with severe flooding, resulting in the evacuation of 100,000 individuals from their homes over the past week. This inundation is being characterized as the most severe in the region in eight decades.
The calamity stems from several rivers, including the Ural, which have overflowed their banks due to a combination of rapidly melting snow and ice, exacerbated by heavy rainfall. Orenburg’s Ural River has surged to 11.43 meters, leading to the evacuation of over 10,000 people and the flooding of 11,700 homes.
Mayor Sergei Salmin has issued urgent pleas for additional evacuations in certain districts, emphasizing the critical nature of the situation. With a population of half a million, Orenburg sits approximately 1,500 kilometers southeast of Moscow.
Residents like Anna Borodina are grappling with the sudden displacement. Borodina recounted how her family, residing in their current home for less than a year, was forced to evacuate as the house succumbed to flooding. Yulia Babenko, who operates an animal shelter in Orenburg, highlighted the plight of pet owners struggling to find refuge for their animals amidst the chaos.
Meanwhile, in Orsk, located further east and upstream of Orenburg, water levels have receded after last weekend’s flooding, which saw rare public protests over compensation issues and perceived failures by local authorities.