Flood of the Urals, rupture of a dam: “critical situation” on the border between Russia and Kazakstan
The Urals flood causes thousands of evacuations in south-central Russia and Kazakhstan. On the Russian side, a federal emergency was declared after the river overflowed in the Orenburg region and the rupture of a dam in the town of Orsk.
Police officers in a flooded street after part of a dam broke, in Orsk, Russia, Sunday April 7, 2024. AP - Anatoly Zhdanov
By: RFI with AFP
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The peak of these floods should not be reached before Tuesday April 9, and, according to the Kremlin, they could spread to other regions, notably Siberia. But already, more than 10,000 residential buildings have been flooded in the Russian regions of the Urals, the Volga and in western Siberia, emergency services which are carrying out the evacuations of residents of towns affected by the floods announced on April 8. “
More than 10,400 residential buildings are flooded
,” said the Ministry of Emergency Situations, which still expects a rise in temperatures, increased melting of snow and the breaking of winter ice covering rivers and streams.
Evacuations
According to the governor of the Orenburg region, floods have been reported along the 2,400 km Urals, the third longest river in Europe. It starts from the mountains of the same name and flows into the Caspian Sea. “
The situation is critical
,” admitted the Russian Minister of Emergency Situations, Alexander Kourenkov, sent to the region by the Kremlin. In the images transmitted by his services, we see him in the company of rescuers who evacuate residents from neighborhoods completely invaded by brown water.
In the city of Orenburg, the mayor warned the 550,000 inhabitants: “
the water level will only rise in the coming days
”.
As of Friday, the very significant rise in the level of the Ural River, fueled by rain and melting snow, had already caused the
rupture of a dam
in the town of Orsk. On the Kazakh side, President Tokayev called these floods “
the worst natural disaster in the country in 80 years
”.
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