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In April 2024, extensive flooding impacted several regions of Kazakhstan and Russia, specifically in the Ural Mountains and Siberia.[2] Snow melt caused freshets[1] resulting in the Orsk Dam collapsing.[3] In Russia, a federal emergency was declared.[4] Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated[5][6] including 16,000 people in Kazakhstan.[7] At least eight people died and hundreds of livestock have drowned in floods that are described to have inundated an area the size of western Europe.[1]
 Damage in Kazakhstan | |
| Date | April 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location | Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Russia) |
| Deaths | 8[1] |
On 3 May, the Grand Prix of Kazakhstan was "postponed until later in the season" due to the on-going flooding.[8]
Impact edit
Kazakhstan edit
The Ministry of Emergency Situations said on 10 April that it had evacuated 96,472 people, including 31,640 children, affected by the floods, which struck the western and northern parts of the country, including the cities of Aktobe and Petropavlovsk,[7][9] as well as the regions of Atyrau, Aktobe, Akmola, Kostanay, East Kazakhstan, Northern Kazakhstan and Pavlodar.[10]
Russia edit
Flooding occurred in Orenburg, Tomsk, Tyumen and Kurgan Oblasts, which border Kazakhstan.[11][9] The flooding was worsened by the collapse of a dam near Orsk on 5 April.[3] Several major river systems have seen their water levels rise, including the Ural River, which flows through Russia and Kazakhstan before entering the Caspian Sea, and the Tobol and Ishim Rivers, both of which are tributaries of the Irtysh River.[10] In Tyumen Oblast, authorities warned that flooding along the Tobol River would peak in May.[12]
Apart from the Orsk Dam, several other dams in the affected areas failed due to heavy rains and increased volumes of water, including one in Novotroitsk, Orenburg Oblast,[13] and another along the Tom River near Tomsk.[14]
The Russian government has not confirmed any fatalities. On 17 April, the Russian investigative news outlet iStories reported that seven people had died from the floods in Orenburg Oblast, citing relatives of the victims who also accused authorities of withholding the circumstances of their deaths to avoid making compensation payments.[15] On 22 April, the Russian investigative news outlet Agentstvo reported that the Dobrovolnoye uranium mines operated by Rosatom in Zverinogolovsky District, Kurgan Oblast, had been flooded, raising concerns over radioactive contamination in the Tobol River.[16]
References edit
- ^ a b c Kilner, James (7 April 2024). "Watch: Worst floods in decades sweep Russia and Kazakhstan". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "Federal emergency declared in Russia's flood-hit Orenburg region". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ a b Gigova, Radina (6 April 2024). "Russian dam bursts forcing thousands to evacuate in flood-hit southern region". CNN. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "Russia declares federal emergency over floods after dam bursts". The Guardian. 7 April 2024. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "'Worst floods in decades' hit Kazakhstan and Russia". BBC News. 7 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "Russia, Kazakhstan evacuate over 100,000 people amid worst flooding in decades". Reuters. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Massive Flooding Inundates Kazakhstan, Forcing Thousands From Homes". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "Grand Prix of Kazakhstan postponed until later in 2024". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Thousands evacuated as Kazakhstan and Russia battle huge floods". France 24. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Tens of thousands evacuated in Russia, Kazakhstan amid worst floods in decades". France 24. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ "Russia's Orenburg Orders Mass Evacuation as City Braces for Flood Peak". The Moscow Times. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ "River Levels in Western Siberia Set to Peak Later Than Forecasted Due to 'Abnormal' Flooding". The Moscow Times. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "'Devastating to See': Russia's Orenburg Region Battles Historic Flood". The Moscow Times. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ "Partial Dam Collapse in Siberia's Tomsk Region as River Swells". The Moscow Times. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ "At Least 7 People Killed in Russian Floods – IStories". The Moscow Times. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Russia's Record Floods Submerge Uranium Mines in Urals – Reports". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 18 April 2024.