Flood Waters Force Thousands to Evacuate in Orenburg, Russia
Historic Deluge Leads to Rapidly Rising Waters
April 12, 2022
Residents in Orenburg Urgently Evacuated
Authorities in the Russian city of Orenburg have issued an urgent call for thousands of residents to evacuate their homes due to the alarming rise of flood waters. The region has been hit by a historic deluge resulting from melting snow, causing major rivers to overflow their banks and resulting in the displacement of over 120,000 people from their homes across Russia’s Ural Mountains, Siberia, and Kazakhstan.
Unprecedented Water Levels Cause Widespread Devastation
Residents like Alexander Nadzhyonov have expressed shock at the surging water levels. Nadzhyonov, while observing the devastating scene, mentioned, “We never expected the water to rise so high. Despite taking precautionary measures by lifting furniture, everything we’ve worked for is now gone, and it doesn’t appear to show any signs of abating. The water level is expected to rise by another meter, which could have a critical impact.”
Authorities Alarmed by Rising Waters
Emergency workers have expressed increasing concern over water levels in the Ural river. The current levels reside at a dangerous height, towering over six and a half feet above the norm. Orenburg Governor Denis Pasler recently briefed President Vladimir Putin of the dire situation, stating that nearly 12,000 homes have already been flooded. The situation could worsen if water levels continue to rise, putting an additional 19,000 individuals at risk.
Evacuation Spreads to Kaminskoye and Threatens Kurgan
The village of Kaminskoye in the Kurgan region has also been urged to evacuate as water levels surged overnight, rising more than 4 feet (1.4 meters). Kurgan’s regional governor, Vadim Shumkov, warned that the water could reach Kurgan in the coming days. Kurgan houses a critical facility responsible for producing infantry fighting vehicles for the Russian army, part of the country’s major military-industrial complex. No impact on the factory has been reported thus far.
As the deluge persists and thousands of lives remain at risk, authorities and emergency workers continue to coordinate evacuation efforts and monitor the unpredictable water levels.
