Overview

• Tens of thousands of residents have been evacuated from Orenburg, Russia, and northern Kazakhstan due to rapidly rising floodwaters.
• The floods, caused by sudden snowmelt and heavy rainfall, have resulted in record water levels in the Ural River, reaching heights not seen in decades.
• Officials report extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, with thousands of properties submerged and critical dam structures compromised.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on the situation, though local responses have been criticized for their lack of coordination and urgency.
• Evacuation efforts and emergency responses are ongoing, with authorities struggling to manage the scale of the disaster.