MOSCOW, April 9. /TASS/. More than 10,500 private residences have been inundated as a result of floods in Russia’s regions, the operational services told TASS. The situation remains the most severe in the Orenburg Region.
A state of emergency is in effect in the Kurgan, Orenburg and Tyumen regions. Russian Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov called on residents in possible flood zones to evacuate.
TASS has gathered the key facts about the flooding in the Russian regions.
The Orenburg Region
- As of the morning of April 9, over 10,000 residential houses and more than 12,000 household plots have been flooded in the region. The region has declared a federal state of emergency.
- Almost 6,400 people have been evacuated. Nearly 1,600 residents are staying in 32 temporary accommodation centers.
- The water level in the Ural River near Orenburg has reached 9 meters (9.3 meters is considered dangerous), it is expected to peak on April 10. Water levels will go back to normal no earlier than April 25, the regional government press service forecasts.
- The situation is critical in eight settlements inside Orenburg and a number of other small communities.
- The situation in Orsk is still difficult, but, according to the latest data, the water level has dropped to 9.28 meters. The city’s power is gradually coming back on.
- 44 bridges are closed for passing. Traffic on federal highways is not restricted, but seven sections on three federal highways are considered at risk.
- The volume of water discharge at the Iriklinsky reservoir was reduced first to 1,500 and then to 1,340 cubic meters per second. According to Orenburg Governor Denis Pasler, this will reduce how fast the water level rises and minimize the risk of new flooding.
The Kurgan Region
- A state of emergency has been declared in the entire region. More than 19,000 people are in the zone of possible flooding, more than 4,300 houses are at risk.
- The forecast is getting worse. The water level in the Tobol River is expected to exceed 11 meters and may be higher than the record values of 1994. The water has so far risen to 8 meters near the village of Zverinogolovsky.
- According to the latest data, 21 residential houses and 109 household plots have been flooded. Almost 690 people have been evacuated, including 100 children. More than 200 residents are in temporary accommodation centers.
- The villages of Zverinogolovskoye, Kazak-Kocherdyk and Kaminskoye are being evacuated. Evacuation from the neighborhoods behind the Kirov Bridge in Kurgan has also begun.
- Electricity was cut off in several districts of the Kurgan Region to prevent possible accidents.
- The Emergencies Ministry head, who worked in the Orenburg region, flew to the area.
The Tyumen Region
- Due to the unfavorable forecast, a state of emergency has been introduced in the Tyumen Region, as high water levels are expected in Tobol and Ishim.
- The flood situation in the region is stable now. The water level is expected to rise significantly in the Kazan District in three to five days.
- More than 400 temporary accommodation centers have been set up in the Tyumen Region. The Emergencies Ministry will send Mi-26 helicopters to the region to evacuate people and deliver cargo.
Situation in other regions
- As of April 9, 10,550 residential houses and 19,140 household plots in 37 regions of Russia were flooded.
- In the next two days there may be a dangerous rise in the water level in the Urals near the village of Kizilskoye in the Chelyabinsk region. Highways are likely to become flooded as well.
- At the same time the situation is stabilizing in the Altai Region, Bryansk and Samara regions. A total of 260 residential houses and 190 plots have been cleared of water there.