Russian President calls for timely response to flooding caused by dam break

According to Mr. Peskov, Governor of Orenburg Denis Pasler and Minister Kurenkov informed President Putin about the development of the flooding situation in the region, especially in the Orsk city area. Mr. Peskov added that during the discussion with Minister Kurenkov, President Putin emphasized and instructed the need to analyze, forecast and take appropriate measures in a timely manner to respond to possible flooding in Kurgan and Tyumen provinces.

On the same day, President Putin also discussed by phone with Tyumen Governor Alexander Moor and Kurgan Governor Vadim Shumkov the risk of flooding in these two localities. According to Mr. Peskov, the Russian leader instructed the localities to deploy response measures to help people and the possibility of evacuating them.

More than 6,100 people, including nearly 1,500 children, were evacuated from their flooded homes, the Orenburg regional government said, adding that more than 1,000 of them were taken to temporary shelters. In addition, 570 animals from flooded farms were taken to safety.

Meanwhile, in the city of Orsk alone, Emergency Situations Minister Kurenkov said the flooding situation in the area remains very serious. According to Mr. Kurenkov, the flooding situation in the city of Orsk is serious because the protection works on the Ural River have been destroyed, causing 4,518 residential buildings and 4,587 areas to be flooded. According to him, in Orsk, authorities have set up 11 temporary shelters with more than 8,000 places to stay. Currently, 510 people have been brought here, including 116 children.

On the night of April 6, a dam in Orsk, the second largest city in Orenburg Oblast, broke in two sections. Another dam burst that same evening. Water from the Ural River flooded several residential areas, inundating more than 6,000 homes. Authorities declared a state of emergency in the region and urged residents to evacuate.