In a recent report by TASS, it was stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the serious flood situation in the Orenburg Region during discussions with Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov. The Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted that Governor Denis Pasler and Minister Kurenkov briefed the president on the flood situation around Orsk in the Orenburg Region.
The flood situation is becoming increasingly severe, particularly in Orsk, with over 6,600 residential houses at risk, as stated by the regional government’s press service. The situation is escalating according to the worst-case scenario, prompting the establishment of eleven temporary shelters with a capacity of 8,087 places. Moreover, evacuation efforts are underway, with 1,164 individuals, including 336 children, already evacuated and 696 people housed in temporary shelters.
Tragically, the collapse of a dam in Orsk occurred in two locations overnight on April 6th, followed by another breach later the same day. While two individuals were found dead in the flooded area, their deaths were reported to be unrelated to the emergency. Regional authorities have declared a regional-level emergency and are urging residents to evacuate promptly to ensure their safety.
The flood was caused by the failure of an embankment dam near Kazakhstan in the southern region of Orenburg. The water level of the Ural river, which the dam was supposed to protect against, reached nearly double the dam’s design capacity by Saturday morning. The regional prosecutor’s office stated that the dam failure resulted from inadequate maintenance, leading to a criminal investigation.
Sergey Salmin, the head of the Orenburg region, declared a state of emergency in Orenburg and urged residents to leave their houses in the flood zone immediately. He emphasized that those who refuse to leave voluntarily will be evacuated forcibly, with the assistance of police officers. Orsk, a city with a population of 230,000 people, lies near Russia’s border with Kazakhstan.
In summary, the flood emergency in the Orenburg Region, particularly in Orsk, has prompted swift action from authorities to ensure the safety of residents. Evacuation efforts are underway, and measures are being taken to address the dam failure and prevent further devastation.
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