Russia and Kazakhstan are grappling with one of the worst flooding events in over seven decades, resulting in the evacuation of more than 100,000 people. The rapid melting of snow has caused rivers to swell beyond their breaking points, particularly affecting the Ural and Tobol rivers.
The Ural River, Europe's third-longest river, saw water levels in Orenburg, a city of approximately 550,000 residents, soar to 9.31 meters (30.5 feet). This exceeded the critical threshold of 9.30 meters, prompting the regional governor, Denis Pasler, to urge those in at-risk areas to evacuate swiftly.
\"I am calling for caution and for those in flooded districts to evacuate promptly,\" Pasler stated on Telegram.
In Orsk, upstream on the Ural River, floodwaters breached an embankment dam last Friday. Although water levels in Orsk have since decreased by 21 centimeters (8.27 inches), they remain significantly above the danger level of approximately 7 meters.
Residents have been forced to navigate through flooded roads as if they were rivers, while authorities work tirelessly to reinforce dams and embankments in an effort to control the deluge. Russia's Emergencies Ministry has acknowledged a slight decline in water levels in some regions but continues to describe the situation as \"still difficult.\"
The Ural River flows through the Ural Mountains and Siberia, eventually joining the Caspian Sea. The unprecedented flooding underscores the impact of extreme weather events on densely populated regions and critical waterways.
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Russia, Kazakhstan evacuate over 100,000 people amid flooding
cgtn.com
