Russia announced on Monday that more than 10,000 homes across the country have been submerged by floods, as rapid snowmelt caused water levels to rise in some of Europe's largest rivers and reached record levels in the Ural Mountains.
The Kremlin warned of "abnormal natural phenomena," calling for increased alertness in affected areas.
The Ural River, originating from the Ural Mountains and flowing into the Caspian Sea, rose several meters within hours on Friday due to snowmelt, flooding through a dam in the city of Orsk, located 1800 kilometers east of Moscow.
The water inundated a large area of Orsk after heavy rains led to the collapse of a nearby dam. Reports also indicated flooding in parts of Siberia, the Volga region, and central Russia.
The Russian Emergencies Ministry stated, "Air temperatures are expected to rise, snowmelt will intensify, rivers will flood, and more than 10,400 residential buildings remain submerged in 39 regions."
Authorities in Orenburg announced that the water level in the Ural River in Orsk "has dropped by 9 centimeters," but water levels in the city, home to around 550,000 people, are approaching dangerous thresholds.
The regional government stated, "In Orenburg, water levels rose by 16 centimeters in one day, reaching 872 centimeters."
Russia has already evacuated thousands of people, mostly from the Orenburg region near Kazakhstan.
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