Devastating Spring Floods Force Evacuation of Over 100,000 People in Russia and Kazakhstan
More than 100,000 people were forced to evacuate on Wednesday after devastating spring floods engulfed cities and villages across vast sections of Russia and Kazakhstan. The floods affected multiple settlements across Russia in the South Urals region east of Moscow, in Western Siberia, and near the Volga River, as well as at least five regions of Kazakhstan, which shares a long border with Russia.
Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesman, described the situation as “quite tense” and the forecast as “unfavorable” as “large amounts of water are coming to new regions.” President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia is receiving reports about the flooding but has no plans to visit the affected areas, according to Mr. Peskov. On Tuesday, Mr. Putin discussed the emergency with his Kazakh counterpart, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
In Kazakhstan, authorities reported that more than 96,000 people had been evacuated and rescued, with over 3,400 buildings remaining flooded in five regions. The situation was exacerbated by a brisk heat wave that caused rapid snowmelt, leading to rising river levels. Waterlogged soil that froze during the winter and heavy precipitation also contributed to the flooding, according to the Emergency Situations Ministry.
Parts of the Russian city of Orenburg were deluged with water as the Ural River swelled more than 33 feet and continued to rise. More than 7,700 people were evacuated in the Orenburg region, with over 13,000 residential buildings flooded across Russia, according to TASS.
Government officials urged local residents in affected areas to evacuate, while local prosecutors warned shops against price gouging on bottled drinking water. In Orsk, a major Russian town near the border with Kazakhstan, the situation began to improve after a flood destroyed an embankment dam, submerging the old part of the city and its smaller residential buildings.
The regional governor described the situation as unprecedented, with the floods being the worst in recorded history. Residents in affected areas expressed anger and frustration, demanding a swifter response from the local government. The devastating floods serve as a stark reminder of the destructive power of nature and the importance of preparedness and response in the face of natural disasters.
