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The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry revealed a sharp rise in flood-affected areas, now spanning 40 regions.
Orenburg region faces severe inundation, with the Ural River surpassing critical levels in Orenburg and Orsk, housing over half a million residents.
The city had not seen such floods since at least 1947, local officials said.
The Ural River depth in Orenburg stood at 996cm (33 feet) on Wednesday morning, well above the “critical level” of 930cm (30.5 feet).
Mayor Sergey Salmin declared a state of emergency as waters reached 9.96 meters, breaching the critical mark by 66 centimeters.
Moscow and Astana have been battling the rising rivers for more than five days, with both declaring a state of emergency and saying the floods were the worst in decades.
“The situation is very, very tense,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. “The water is continuing to rise. Large [amounts of] water are coming to new regions.”
Authorities anticipate peak flooding on Wednesday, mobilizing all emergency services for swift action.
“According to expert forecasts, today it will rise again by another 30-70 centimeters [12-28 inches],” the city administration warned on Telegram. It called on all residents in potential flood areas to “leave immediately”.
Health concerns loom as cases of hepatitis A emerge in flood-hit areas, exacerbated by the use of untreated meltwater. The Orenburg region Health Ministry urges caution, advising residents to boil water before consumption.
Vaccination efforts intensify, with nearly 2,000 individuals in Orsk receiving immunizations against the disease within a day.
Across the border, Kazakhstan grapples with similar challenges, declaring a state of emergency in northern and western regions adjacent to Russia.
Evacuations surge as nearly 10,000 individuals seek safety from rising waters, with rescue operations ongoing in both countries.
Source: Newsroom
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