Dam burst in Russia: Orenburg authorities urge residents to evacuate

Sergei Salmin, the mayor of the Russian city of Orenburg, has called on all residents to evacuate because of possible flooding after a dam burst in Orsk.

Source: Salmin on Telegram

Quote: "Water can come at night, you are putting your life and the lives of your loved ones in danger! Absolutely everyone in the flood zone needs to leave their homes. Do not delay the evacuation!"

Details: Salmon said that the situation would only get worse over the next two days. "Experts stated that the water level would exceed the dangerous level. Don't wait till it happens! Leave now," he said.

Salmin said that as of 8 April, the flood situation in Orenburg was deteriorating, and a state of emergency had been declared in the city. This morning, the water level in the Ural River was 872 centimetres and is approaching the dangerous level of 930 centimetres.

A total of 2,015 plots and 1,535 households have already been flooded. 188 of them were flooded over the last 24 hours.

For reference: According to the latest census, 543,654 people lived in Orenburg.

Background: On 5 April, a dam on the Ural River broke in Orsk, Russia’s Orenburg Oblast. Many parts of the city were flooded. Other cities were also under threat of flooding; by the evening of 7 April, the water level in the Ural River near Orenburg was 864 centimetres, with 66 centimetres remaining till the critical level was reached. The flood situation remains critical and the water level will only rise in the coming days.

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