On April 7, the Russian government declared an emergency situation in the areas of the Orenburg region affected by the flood, official sources report. Increased water levels in the Ural River led to flooding, which forced more than 4,000 people, including 885 children, reported in the regional government.
The situation worsens every hour as the water in the Ural River and its tributaries continues to come. According to local authorities, more than six thousand residential buildings in the area are flooded. Also, more than eight thousand houses were left without power supply.
In some areas, Orsk water reached the first floor windows, which is why locals are forced to move around the city on boats. The refining plant ceased operations due to the danger of flooding.
On the evening of April 5, a gap of the dam occurred in Orsk, which was built several years ago. The next day, another breakthrough was received.
The authorities confirmed the identification of the bodies of four people in the flood area. However, they say that none of them died as a result of drowning, and death came for other reasons.
The flood situation, according to the Russian State News Agency of TASS with reference to regional power, "develops in the worst scenario".
In the morning of April 7, the head of the Ministry of Emergencies of Russia Alexander Kurenkov arrived in Orenburg. In the report to him, the deputy chairman of the department Ilya Denisov evaluated the situation as "complex".
Orenburg chairman Sergey Salmina said that residents of districts in the area of dangerous flooding will be evacuated and forcibly if necessary. He described the situation as critical and warned that the water level is expected to grow in the coming days.
