Record floods in Russia and Kazakhstan as rivers continue to rise | Global News

The Russian city of Orenburg is facing a major crisis as rising water levels have caused widespread flooding in the region. This is the worst flooding seen in nearly a century, with major rivers across Russia and Kazakhstan bursting their banks.

Over 110,000 people have been forced from their homes in Russia’s Ural Mountains, Siberia, and Kazakhstan as rivers like the Ural, which flows into the Caspian Sea, overwhelmed embankments. In Orenburg, residents described the waters rising swiftly and far beyond breaking point, forcing them to flee with just their children, pets, and a few belongings.

Whole areas of the city are underwater, with the Ural river rising to dangerous levels. Officials have warned that the river could rise even further, causing more devastation. The flooding has also affected other regions in Russia and Kazakhstan, with water levels rising in Siberia’s Tomsk and Kurgan.

Residents in Orenburg have expressed disappointment in local officials for not adequately preparing for the annual snow melt, which contributed to the severity of the flooding. Emergency workers attribute the unusually severe flooding to a combination of factors, including waterlogged soils before winter and rapid snow melt due to rising spring temperatures and heavy rains.

The situation remains critical, with emergency services working to deal with the rising waters. The Kremlin has stated that President Vladimir Putin is being regularly updated on the situation but has no current plans to visit the affected areas. The global climate crisis has also been highlighted, with researchers warning that rising temperatures could lead to more extreme weather events in the future.