Record Floods Trigger Mass Evacuations in Russia and Kazakhstan

Authorities in Orenburg, Russia, and northern Kazakhstan have ordered evacuations amid unprecedented flooding, with tens of thousands displaced and critical infrastructure threatened.

• 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.

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