A Major Flood Ravages Southern Urals, Prompting Evacuations and Criticism of Authorities
Thousands of Russians Demand Help from President Putin
A major flood in the southern Urals has resulted in the evacuation of thousands of residents from their homes. The epicenter of the disaster, Orsk, witnessed outraged citizens taking to the streets to criticize the response of the authorities and to seek assistance from President Vladimir Putin.
Worsening Situation Sparks Massive Evacuation Efforts
Severe seasonal floods, compounded by the collapse of a dam, struck the northern regions of Kazakhstan and Russia’s Orenburg region. Kazakhstan reported over 15,000 evacuations since the water levels started to rise in early April.
Failure of Dam and Criminal Investigation
The Ural River, which flows from the Ural Mountains to the Caspian Sea, breached a dam in Orsk, a city of approximately 200,000 residents. The Investigative Committee, Russia’s main investigative body, has launched a criminal case, attributing the breach to the dam’s inadequate maintenance and violation of safety measures.
A day later, another part of the dam burst, causing further flooding in the surrounding villages. The Orsk oil refinery suspended operations on Sunday to mitigate ecological risks.
Thousands Displaced, State of Emergency Declared
Russian authorities reported that over 6,500 individuals had been evacuated, with more than 10,000 homes flooded in the region. The Orenburg region proclaimed a federal emergency, marking the worst flooding incident in the area since the commencement of recordkeeping.
Rare Public Outrage and Demands for Resignation
The local prosecutor’s office issued a warning against staging any demonstrations, threatening violators with administrative arrests. Despite this, hundreds of protesters converged outside the mayor’s office in Orsk, demanding resignation, increased financial compensation, and improved assistance for affected families.
Protesters were seen chanting “Shame!” and “Putin, help us!” in videos posted by local media outlets. The dissent expressed in these demonstrations is a rare sight in Russia due to the historical suppression of public dissent.
Mayor Vasily Kozupitsa, who had inspected the dam two days prior to the breach, claimed that there was no risk of collapse, disregarding reports of rising water levels. Demonstrators were eventually invited to the mayor’s office for talks with the regional governor, Denis Pasler.
Kremlin Alerts of Record-breaking Flooding
Rising water levels, exceeding those observed in the past century, have prompted the Kremlin to issue warnings. Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, revealed that President Putin had instructed the governors of the neighboring Tyumen and Kurgan regions to prepare for the imminent floods. However, no official plans for Putin to visit the affected regions have been reported.
Problems with Dam Integrity and Insufficient Compensation
Authorities in Orenburg estimate the current flood damage to be around $226 million. Aids to affected families, ranging from $500 to $1,000 per person for lost property, have drawn criticism, with locals arguing that the compensation does not adequately cover the damage caused by the flooding.
The dam, designed to withstand water levels up to 18 feet, faced rising water levels up to 31 feet, highlighting structural vulnerabilities. Investigation into the dam’s construction has revealed previous instances of embezzlement and construction mistakes.
The dam’s misappropriation of state funds, involving approximately $1.3 million, has been the subject of inquiries since 2014. Independent experts have further revealed fundamental issues with the dam’s integrity and overall construction.
In 2020, the supervisory body responsible for ecologic and nuclear sites, Rostekhnadzor, reported 38 maintenance violations, resulting in a fine of roughly $200 for the municipality.
Robyn Dixon and Natalia Abbakumova in Riga, Latvia, contributed to this report.
