Three people have lost their lives in southern Russia after an embankment dam near Kazakhstan broke, causing severe flooding. The city of Orsk has been hit the hardest, with thousands of people evacuated as the Ural River overflowed and breached the dam in two places. The authorities have reported that over 4,000 people, including over 1,000 children, have been evacuated, with preparations underway for temporary accommodation for over 80,000 people.
The dam failure has been attributed to poor maintenance of the structure, leading to a criminal investigation being opened by the regional prosecutor’s office. With the water level in the Ural River nearly double what the dam was designed to handle, several residential buildings have been flooded in Orsk, prompting the declaration of a state of emergency in the Orenburg region. The head of the region has urged all residents to evacuate immediately to prevent further loss of life.
Orsk, a city with a population of 230,000, is situated near the border with Kazakhstan. The situation remains critical as the water in the Ural River continues to rise, posing a potential threat to the safety of residents in low-lying areas. The regional authorities are working to ensure the safety and well-being of those affected by the flooding.
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