More than 108,000 people, including 36,591 children, have been rescued and evacuated from flooded regions of Russia and Kazakhstan since the beginning of the floods, a senior officer of the Civil Defense and Military Units Committee Saipash Erasyl said on April 12.
Temporary shelters currently accommodate 6,586 individuals, including 3,197 children. Around nine million cubic meters of meltwater was pumped out, while approximately 1.6 million bags and 1.2 million tons of inert material were deployed.
In Atyrau, Aktobe, Akmola, Kostanai, East Kazakhstan, and North Kazakhstan regions, flooding has affected at least 3,563 private residential buildings, 563 courtyard areas, and 1,778 country houses.
Rescue efforts in the affected regions involved diverting water from 3,052 residential buildings and 1,935 courtyard areas. Around 34,272 people, 3,790 pieces of equipment, 762 water pumping devices, 200 watercrafts, and 17 aircraft participated in rescue operations.
Nine bridges and 107 road surfaces are currently under control. Additionally, there are 66 settlements without transport links, where local executive bodies are maintaining contact with the population and ensuring the availability of essential supplies like food and medicine.
Unstable weather forecasted
The Kazhydromet National Hydrometeorological Service forecasted unstable weather in most parts of Kazakhstan.
“There will be rain, heavy rain in the south and southeast of the country, precipitation (rain, snow) is predicted in the east and center of the country. Fogs and increased wind are expected across Kazakhstan, ice in the north and east, thunderstorms in the south and southeast, and a dust storm in the daytime in the southwest,” said Kazhydromet.
Water level reaches new high in Southern Russia and Kazakhstan
On April 13, the water level in Orenburg city continued to rise due to heavy rains and snowmelt, exacerbated by unusually warm temperatures. This led to mass evacuations in southern Russia and neighboring Kazakhstan.
The Ural River surged to record levels, reaching 11.71 meters compared to 11.43 meters the previous day. This exceeded the critical mark of 9.3 meters by over 2 meters, according to regional Governor Denis Paler.
“We hope that this is a plateau — that there will be no more increases, the situation will stabilize, and then a decline will begin,” he said on Telegram.
Previous record level of the Ural was 9.4 meters in 1942.
Later in the day, the local publication Ural56 reported a further rise in the river near Orenburg, reaching 11.8 meters. However, local authorities have not yet confirmed these latest figures.
Key stats
- 6,586 individuals accommodated in shelters, including 3,197 children.
- Nine million cubic meters of meltwater pumped out.
- 1.6 million bags and 1.2 million tons of inert material used.
- 3,563 private residences, 563 courtyards, 1,778 country houses affected.
- Water redirected from 3,052 residential buildings and 1,935 courtyards.
- 34,272 people, 3,790 pieces of equipment, 762 water pumps, 200 watercraft, 17 aircraft involved in rescue operations.
- 66 areas without transport links provided with essential supplies.
