Orenburg Oblast Allocates 1 Billion Rubles for Flood Victim Compensation

The Orenburg Oblast region in southern Russia has allocated 1 billion rubles for compensation to victims of recent severe flooding, as announced by Governor Denis Pasler. The region has been hit hard by the floods, with over 17,000 households inundated and more than 13,000 people evacuated.

According to the regional administration, the water level in the Ural River near the city of Orenburg has dropped below the hazardous mark of 930 cm, currently standing at 920 cm. The water level in the Sakmara River near Tatarskaya Kargala has also decreased from 858 cm to 858 cm, with the hazardous level being 870 cm.

Since the start of the spring floods, 38,302 Russians have been evacuated from the affected areas and settlements at risk of flooding. The Orenburg Region remains the most impacted, with 12,300 homes still under water. In total, over 14,700 residential houses and 29,000 homesteads are flooded across the Orenburg Oblast.

Why this matters: The severe flooding in the Orenburg Oblast has caused widespread damage and displacement, affecting tens of thousands of residents. The allocation of compensation funds by the regional government is an essential step in helping flood victims recover and rebuild their lives.

Governor Pasler has doubled one-time payments to flood victims, ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 rubles ($200 to $1,000) per person. However, many local residents say the compensation is far too little to cover the damage to their homes. Some have complained that they have not received any payments weeks after being left homeless.

The flooding has also forced the shutdown of the Orsk refinery, which has a capacity of about 130,000 barrels per day. Authorities have reported four deaths related to the floods, with two due to heart attacks and one by suicide. Russian prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the construction of the Orsk dam in response to the disaster.

The situation has been compounded by flooding in neighboring Kazakhstan, where a state of emergency has been declared in 10 out of 17 regions and seven people have died. Experts have cited multiple possible causes for the floods, including large snow reserves melting, deep freezing of the soil, and a massive release of water from a reservoir.

Governor Pasler acknowledged the struggles of flood victims, stating, "We understand that the compensation payments cannot fully cover all the damages, but we are working to provide as much assistance as possible to those affected by this disaster. The investigation into the Orsk dam will determine if any negligence contributed to the severity of the flooding." Authorities continue efforts to aid evacuees and monitor water levels as the region begins its long recovery process.

Key Takeaways

• Orenburg Oblast allocates 1B rubles for flood victim compensation.
• Over 17,000 households inundated, 13,000+ evacuated due to severe flooding.
• Orsk refinery shutdown, 4 deaths reported, criminal probe into Orsk dam.
• Neighboring Kazakhstan also hit by floods, 7 deaths, state of emergency.
• Compensation payments criticized as insufficient to cover damages.