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Flooding and melting snow have caused a dam to burst in Russia. Thousands of people were evacuated. An improvement in the situation is not in sight for the time being.
Update from April 7, 2024, 3:18 p.m.: After the collapse of the Ural dam in Russia, the situation remains tense. The city of Orsk is particularly affected; “a critical situation has arisen for its around 200,000 residents,” said Russian Emergency Management Minister Alexander Kurenkov on Sunday. At least 4,500 houses in the city have now been flooded, and several thousand people have been evacuated and are in emergency accommodation. The region’s schools will also remain closed for the time being.
The Ural River was particularly high due to melting snow and heavy rain. The dam, installed in 2014, was designed to hold water up to 5.5 meters, but the water level has risen to up to nine meters in recent days. Moscow cried out in the face of the The effects of the dam failure constitute a “federal emergency situation”.which is intended to quickly ensure reinforcements for the rescue workers and additional help.
The city of Orsk was hit particularly hard by the flooding, and according to the mayor, the situation is getting worse. © dpa
Serious dam failure in Russia – thousands of people evacuated after floods
First report from April 6, 2024, 6:27 p.m.: Orenburg – thousands of people in Russia had to leave their homes on Saturday (April 6). The reason for this is a dam burst in the Orenburg region in the Urals, near the border with Kazakhstan. According to the authorities, more than 4,000 people from the region were brought to safety. “4,028 people, including 1,019 children, were evacuated,” the press service of regional governor Denis Pasler said on Saturday. The dam burst caused more than 2,400 houses to be flooded. Last year, Russia had to contend with a dam bursting as a result of flooding. The authorities are currently talking about torrential rain amidst the melting snow.
Dam failure and flooding: One of the worst natural disasters in the last 80 years
A dam on the Ural River, installed to stop the river’s spring flooding, burst Friday evening, authorities said. The flooding was also increased by the melting snow. In Germany, too, there were fears that dikes could break during the last floods. While inspecting the flooded city of Orsk, two dead people were discovered, the cause of death of which is initially unknown. However, according to official information, they did not drown. Media reports of further victims were denied by the authorities.
According to Pasler, the flooding has now reached its peak. The situation is particularly difficult in the city of Orsk. However, there is no improvement in sight, quite the opposite. “The situation is rapidly deteriorating,” said Vasily Kosupitsa, the city’s mayor.
The mayor of the regional capital Orenburg also sounded the alarm. The water level in the Urals is said to have already reached a level of over 8.50 meters and is continuing to rise. Kazakhstan is also affected by the floods; local President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev even spoke of one of the country’s worst natural disasters in the past 80 years.
Massive flooding in Russia. © IMAGO / ITAR-TASS
Proceedings initiated after dam collapse due to “negligence and violation of safety regulations for construction”
The public prosecutor’s office has opened criminal proceedings for negligence in connection with the floods. The reason for this is an inspection of the dam by the technical supervisory authority Rostechnadzor, which took place in 2020. During the inspection, 38 deficiencies were identified and their rectification was ordered. However, it is unclear whether the deficiencies have actually been corrected.