Severe Flooding in Russia and Kazakhstan Leads to Mass Evacuations and 7 Deaths

Heavy rains and snowmelt have caused severe flooding across widespread parts of the border areas between Russia and Kazakhstan, leading to mass evacuations and at least 7 deaths. The worst-hit regions include Orenburg Oblast and northwestern Kazakhstan, Kurgan Oblast, Tyumen Oblast, and Tomsk Oblast in Russia, as well as Aktobe, Atyrau, and North Kazakhstan in Kazakhstan.

In Kazakhstan, over 100,000 people, including 36,000 children, have been evacuated due to the floods. The Ural River reached critical levels, forcing thousands from their homes. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has described the situation as a "disaster of a national scale" and expects the next 10 days to be critical.

In Russia, the city of Orenburg was forced to evacuate thousands of people as the Ural River reached record levels, with the flood level expected to reach 11.6 meters. Nearby cities like Orsk also suffered significant damage, with a dam on the Ural River breaking multiple times. Over 5,000 properties are flooded and 15,000 people have been evacuated in the Kurgan region where hundreds of houses are flooded alone.

Why this matters: The severe flooding has caused widespread disruptions and damage across parts of Russia and Kazakhstan, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. The disaster highlights the need for improved flood management and infrastructure in the region to mitigate the impact of future extreme weather events.

Authorities in both countries have declared states of emergency and are coordinating their response efforts. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Qasym Zhomart Toqaev have discussed joint efforts to address the disaster. Residents have criticized the authorities' response, with some staging protests over insufficient compensation. The flooding has also impacted a major military vehicle factory in the Russian region bordering Kazakhstan where homes are flooded. As of May 2, 2024, the situation remains critical, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warning that water levels have yet to peak in several regions.

Key Takeaways

• Severe flooding across Russia-Kazakhstan border, over 100,000 evacuated in Kazakhstan
• Ural River reached record levels, forcing thousands to evacuate in Orenburg, Russia
• Flooding caused significant damage, with a dam breaking multiple times in Orsk, Russia
• Authorities in both countries declared states of emergency, coordinating response efforts
• Flooding impacted a major military vehicle factory in Russia, situation remains critical