Record flood waters rise in Russia's Urals, forcing thousands to evacuate

 

Europe's third-longest river burst its dam on Sunday, flooding two towns in Russia's Ural Mountains, destroying at least 6,000 homes and forcing thousands to flee their homes, livestock and some property.

A number of regions in Russia's Ural Mountains and Siberia, as well as parts of neighboring Kazakhstan, have recently suffered the worst flooding in decades.

The Ural River, which rises from the Ural Mountains and flows into the Caspian Sea, rose several meters in a few hours due to melt water on Friday and pierced the dam in the city of Orsk, 1,800 kilometers east of the Urals. 1,100 miles). Moscow.

Two cities in Russia's Ural Mountains were flooded on Sunday after Europe's third longest river burst its dam, leaving at least 6,000 homes submerged and thousands forced to flee with their animals and some belongings remained. .

A number of regions in Russia's Ural Mountains and Siberia, as well as parts of neighboring Kazakhstan, have suffered the worst flooding in decades.

The Ural River, which rises from the Ural Mountains and flows into the Caspian Sea, rose several meters in a few hours as meltwater caused Friday to pierce a dam in the city of Orsk, 1,800 miles (1,100 kilometers) to the east. of Moscow.

Orsk has a population of 230,000, a large part of the city was flooded and more than 4,000 people were evacuated. Video released by the emergency service shows people wading neck-deep in water to rescue abandoned dogs and making their way to safety in boats and dinghies.

President Vladimir Putin instructed Minister of Emergencies Alexander Kulenkov to fly to the region. Flooding in the Ural-Korgan region and Siberia's Tyumen region is now inevitable, the Kremlin said on Sunday.

The Kremlin said Mr. Putin spoke by phone with regional leaders.

Orenburg Regional Governor Denis Pasler said that this was the largest flood recorded in the region.

Flooding occurred along a 2,400-kilometer (1,500-mile) stretch of the Ural River, which runs through the Orenburg region and then extends through Kazakhstan to the Caspian Sea, he said.

Russian media reported that Orenburg regional officials said local flooding caused a loss of approximately 21 billion rubles ($227 million) and that the flooding would not subside until April 20.