MOSCOW: Russian authorities have initiated new evacuations from towns and villages in western Siberia that are under threat from severe floods sweeping through the region and neighboring Kazakhstan.
The ongoing floods have compelled thousands of individuals to flee their homes and are projected to peak this week along the Tobol and Ishim rivers.
Governor Alexander Moor of the Tyumen region announced that emergency services have commenced “urgent evacuations” from towns anticipated to be affected by the inundations.
“Pack your valuables. Leave now for a safe place, to relatives, or to a temporary accommodation center,” Moor advised via social media.
In Tyumen, local authorities reported “critical” water levels of up to 808 centimeters along the Ishim river in certain areas, prompting urgent evacuation warnings via text message to approximately 67,000 residents of Ishim town.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring Kurgan region, the Tobol river’s water level rose by 111 centimeters within a day, reaching 742 centimeters, necessitating evacuations from 21 towns and villages.
Russian Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov and Kurgan Governor Vadim Shumkov conducted aerial inspections of the flood-affected regions on Tuesday, as confirmed by the ministry.
In the Orenburg region, which has been significantly impacted by the flooding in recent days, authorities noted a decrease in the Ural river’s water level. Approximately 1,000 flooded homes saw water recede over the past 24 hours, according to regional officials.
The town of Orsk, which had experienced relief following heavy flooding last week, is once again under threat after water overflowed from a dam.
Authorities in Kazakhstan previously reported that over 100,000 individuals were evacuated due to rising water levels.
These catastrophic floods are attributed to heavy rainfall, rising temperatures, and increased snow and ice melting in the region.
