MOSCOW: Russia has reported the evacuation of over 4,000 people in the Orenburg region, located near the Kazakhstan border, following flooding caused by a dam breach.
Emergency services worked tirelessly through the night following the rupture of a dam in the city of Orsk, situated close to the Kazakhstan border, on Friday.
According to the press service of the Orenburg governor, “4,208 people, including 1,019 children,” have been evacuated, and more than 2,500 homes have been impacted by the flooding resulting from the dam breach on Friday, prompted by heavy rainfall.
A criminal case has been initiated in Russia on charges of “negligence and violation of construction safety rules” related to the dam breach, constructed in 2014.
Authorities have described the situation as challenging across the region, cautioning about dangerous water levels on the Ural River in the main city of Orenburg.
Governor Denis Pasler indicated that the floodwaters had reached their peak, highlighting the particularly difficult situation in Orsk.
Russian emergency services have released images of rescue teams navigating through villages using boats and hovercrafts.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev characterized the floods as one of the worst natural disasters in Kazakhstan in 80 years, urging authorities in the Central Asian nation to be prepared to assist those affected.
Floods at the onset of spring have impacted several regions in the Urals and western Siberia.
