In Photos: Orenburg Flooding Peaks as 'Colossal' Waters Rise in Neighboring Regions
Ten days after the Ural River burst a dam in the city of Orsk and forced the evacuation of thousands, historic flooding continues to threaten Russia's southern Urals and western Siberia as well as the neighboring country of Kazakhstan.
A combination of heavy rainfall and an unusually warm spring has led to dams bursting and rivers overflowing their banks across the area.
In the Kurgan region which neighbors the Orenburg region, Governor Vadim Shumkov said Monday that a “colossal” amount of water was expected to engulf the regional capital.
Here is a look at photos from Orenburg, where officials say water levels have peaked and should start to recede early this week:
A combination of heavy rainfall and an unusually warm spring has led to dams bursting and rivers overflowing their banks across the area.
In the Kurgan region which neighbors the Orenburg region, Governor Vadim Shumkov said Monday that a “colossal” amount of water was expected to engulf the regional capital.
Here is a look at photos from Orenburg, where officials say water levels have peaked and should start to recede early this week:
![](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/image/1360/16/AFP__20240413__34PC2MG__v1__HighRes__RussiaFlood.jpg)
A view of the flood-hit city of Orenburg. Russian emergency services said on Saturday they had evacuated thousands of people from the Orenburg region in the southern Ural Mountains as floodwater continued to rise.
Olga Maltseva / AFP
![](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/image/1360/94/TASS_69091735.jpg)
Cats rescued from the flood-hit city of Orsk travel in a vehicle owned by the Koshkin Dom animal shelter.
The Orenburg mayor's office reported that 7,615 land plots and 3,540 homes have been flooded.
The Orenburg mayor's office reported that 7,615 land plots and 3,540 homes have been flooded.
Yegor Aleyev / TASS
![](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/image/1360/c6/TASS_69091693.jpg)
Cats rescued from the flood-hit city of Orsk travel in a vehicle owned by the Koshkin Dom animal shelter.
Yegor Aleyev / TASS
![](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/image/1360/fa/AFP__20240413__34PB2WB__v1__HighRes__RussiaFlood-2.jpg)
An aerial view of the flood-hit city of Orenburg.
Andrei Borodulin / AFP
![](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/image/1360/e1/TASS_69091038.jpg)
An Orthodox priest takes a look from a belfry as the Church of Our Lady of the Sign rises over floodwater in Orenburg.
Yegor Aleyev / TASS
![](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/image/1360/83/AFP__20240413__34PD3PT__v1__HighRes__RussiaFlood.jpg)
A dog takes in a view of flooded Orenburg.
Olga Maltseva / AFP
![](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/image/1360/01/AFP__20240413__34P93MY__v1__HighRes__RussiaFlood.jpg)
An aerial view of the floods in Orenburg.
Andrei Borodulin / AFP
![](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/image/1360/da/AFP__20240413__34PC2NE__v1__HighRes__RussiaFlood.jpg)
Orenburg residents paddle rubber boats to salvage their belongings from a flooded residential area.
Olga Maltseva / AFP
![](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/image/1360/d3/TASS_69091098.jpg)
Floodwater covers the Dubovy Plyos dacha neighborhood in Orenburg.
Yegor Aleyev / TASS
![](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/image/1360/02/AFP__20240413__34P94PV__v1__HighRes__RussiaFlood.jpg)
Men travel in the bucket of an excavator amid flooding in the city of Orenburg.
Olga Maltseva / AFP