MOSCOW (Reuters) – The level of the Ural River in the Russian city of Orenburg reached 11.83 metres, local authorities said on Saturday, after major rivers burst their banks in a historic deluge of melted snow.
City authorities called on thousands of residents to evacuate immediately Friday due to rapidly rising floodwaters.
“The situation remains difficult. In some areas the peak of the floods is still ahead,” Orenburg Governor Denis Pasler said on the Telegram messaging app.
Water has also increased significantly in another Russian region, Kurgan. Floodwaters are approaching the settlement of Baraba, located near the Kurgan regional center, Governor Vadim Shumkov said on his Telegram channel, calling on residents to evacuate.
Shumkov said a flood could reach Kurgan in the next few days. The level of the Tobol River, which runs through the city, could reach 9-11 meters, he added.