Widespread record floods hit parts of Russia, flooding over 10 500 homes

Severe flooding struck Russia’s Ural Mountains and Siberia, alongside parts of neighboring Kazakhstan since April 3, 2024, caused by rapid snow melt and heavy rainfall. The situation worsened after two dams broke near Orsk City on April 5, leading to record flood levels by April 7. The crisis has resulted in at least three deaths in Russia and more than 10 500 homes flooded. In Kazakhstan, two fatalities and nearly 75 000 displacements have been reported.

South-western Russia, particularly the Orenburg Region, and north-western Kazakhstan have experienced severe floods and flash floods since April 3.

The floods, primarily triggered by a rapid thawing of snow due to warm temperatures and further exacerbated by heavy rainfall, have caused widespread destruction and displacement. The situation further deteriorated after the breach of two local dams near Orsk City in the south-eastern Orenburg Region on April 5, prompting a criminal investigation into suspected construction violations.

By April 7, the floodwaters in Orsk surged to a historic high of 9.7 m (31.8 feet), surpassing the previous record of 9.46 m (31.0 feet), as reported by Russia’s AllRivers water level information site. The catastrophic flooding has led to the displacement of approximately 4 500 people and the inundation of around 6 500 houses across 15 towns and cities in the Orenburg Region, as of April 8. Orsk, Krasnokholm, and Sorochinsk cities were the hardest hit.

On the morning of April 9, TASS reported as many as 6 995 homes still flooded in Orsk.

Overall, more than 10 400 homes across various regions of Russia, including the Urals, Siberia, the Volga, and central areas, have been reported flooded.

On April 9, the Orenburg Mayor’s Office said the water level in the Ural River gained 25 cm (9.8 inches) over the past day. According to data of the Hydrometeorological Center of Orenburg, the Ural [river] rises to 8.97 m (29.4 feet) as of 08:00 LT (03:00 UTC) against the dangerous mark of 9.30 m (30.5 feet).

Specialists forecast that the water level will continue growing today and peak on Wednesday, April 10.

Massive floods due to brust a dam in Orsk of Orenburg Oblast, Russia 🇷🇺 (08.04.2024)

Flood in the Orenburg region were called the most powerful in the last 100 years. Water flooded more than 10 thousand houses and 18.4 thousand plots

TELEGRAM JOIN 👉 https://t.co/yY0dMMK1fg pic.twitter.com/Usc6vqylG5

— Disaster News (@Top_Disaster) April 8, 2024

The flooding has not only impacted Russia but also Kazakhstan, where nearly 75 000 people have been displaced, a number of whom are now in temporary accommodation centers.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) reports two fatalities in Kazakhstan. Emergency declarations have been issued in 10 oblasts across both countries, including Aktobe, Kostanay, Karaganda, Akmola, Atyrau, Pavlodar, West Kazakhstan, North Kazakhstan, Abay, and Ulytau, with Atyrau Region being among the worst affected.

References:

¹ Russia, Kazakhstan – Floods – DG ECHO – April 8, 2024

² Water level of Ural river near Orenburg growing to 897 cm — Mayor’s Office – TASS – April 9, 2024

³ Almost 2,500 people evacuated from Orsk due to flooding — emergencies services – TASS – April 9, 2024

⁴ Russia floods: Thousands forced to flee homes after melting snow triggers record flooding – Sky News – April 8, 2024