More than 100,000 people have been ordered to evacuate in Russia and Kazakhstan after rapidly melting snow caused rivers to swell beyond their banks, resulting in the worst flooding the region has experienced in at least 70 years.
Communities across the Ural Mountains, Siberia, and regions of Kazakhstan near major rivers like the Ural and Tobol have been inundated as water levels rose dramatically in a matter of hours. Local officials reported that the rivers had reached their highest levels ever recorded, with some rising by several meters.
On Tuesday evening, the Ural River in the Russian city of Orenburg, home to around 550,000 residents, reached a level of 9.31 meters (30.5 feet), surpassing the critical threshold of 9.30 meters. Regional Governor Denis Pasler urged residents in affected areas to evacuate promptly. “I am calling for caution and for those in flooded districts to evacuate promptly,” Pasler said on Telegram.
Images from the city showed residents paddling through flooded streets, while emergency workers reinforced dams and embankments in an effort to contain the rising waters.
Earlier in the week, floodwaters breached an embankment dam in the nearby city of Orsk. While water levels in Orsk had subsided by 21 centimeters (8.27 inches), they remained at 9.07 meters—still significantly above the official danger level of approximately 7 meters.
Russia’s Emergencies Ministry described the situation as “still difficult,” noting that while water levels had declined in some areas, many regions remained at risk.
The Ural River, Europe’s third-longest river, flows through Russia and Kazakhstan before emptying into the Caspian Sea. The unprecedented flooding has affected scores of settlements along its course, displacing tens of thousands of residents and causing widespread damage to homes and infrastructure.
Authorities in both countries are coordinating emergency response efforts, including evacuations, temporary shelters, and the distribution of essential supplies to those affected. Meteorologists attribute the sudden flooding to an unusually rapid snowmelt following recent temperature rises.
The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, and officials have warned that water levels could remain high for several days. Residents are urged to stay informed through official channels and to follow evacuation orders to ensure their safety.
Reference(s):
Russia, Kazakhstan evacuate over 100,000 people amid flooding
cgtn.com
