More than 4,000 people were evacuated in the Urals region

More than 4,000 people were evacuated from a flooded area in the Russian region of Orenburg, Urals, after a dam broke on Friday, regional officials announced Saturday, amid snow melt. “4,208 people evacuated including 1,019 children”Announced the news service of the regional governor, Denis Basler, on Telegram.

There were only 2,500 houses in total “Flood” In this border region of Kazakhstan, they noted in a press release.

Evacuees were repatriated “Towards Temporary Accommodation Centers”In a separate message, Denis Basler announced the exceptional financial support.

The regional prosecutor's office overseeing the case explained that the significant flooding came a day after a dam broke on Friday in Orsk, a town on the border with neighboring Kazakhstan.

According to this source, “A Warning” Presented in March at Orsk City Hall “Violation of the Law on the Protection of Population and Territories from Natural and Man-Made Emergencies”.

According to regional officials, the partially collapsed dam was officially designed to rise 5.5m above the Urals, the region's largest river, compared to the current 9.6m.

Snow melting

Regional authorities, for their part, also noted the melting of snow “climbing” Rivers in the region – including the Urals – etc “cause” In addition to flooding.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry released a video of the evacuees, showing water entering homes, with citizens being evacuated by rescuers on their feet in the water.

According to these pictures, some elderly people were helped by several rescue teams to leave their flooded homes.

Flooding caused by melting snow is also affecting Kazakhstan, which borders Russia, prompting President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to speak out in a televised address.

The leader spoke on Saturday “A Natural Disaster”, “In terms of magnitude and impact over the last 80 years”.

“The situation is difficult, but we must not despair (…) the main thing is to avoid human losses”He declared and promised“Due to floods, local emergencies have been declared in ten regions of the country”.