Russia evacuated more than 4,000 people due to dam break

Russia says it has evacuated more than 4,000 people in the Orenburg region, near the border with Kazakhstan, due to flooding after a dam burst.

Emergency services worked through the night after a dam burst in Orsk, the second largest city in the Orenburg region of southwestern Russia, local authorities said on April 6.

The press service of the Orenburg Governor's office said "4,208 people, including 1,019 children" had been evacuated and more than 2,500 homes were affected by flooding caused by a dam burst following torrential rain on April 5.

Rescuers evacuate people from the city of Orsk, in the Orenburg region of southwestern Russia, after a dam in the area burst due to heavy rain. Photo: AFP — Rescuers evacuate people from the city of Orsk, in the Orenburg region of southwestern Russia, after a dam in the area burst due to heavy rain. Photo: *AFP*

Russia has opened a criminal investigation into “negligence and violation of construction safety rules”. The dam that collapsed was built in 2014.

Orenburg region governor Denis Pasler said experts assessed that the dam was not built to withstand the enormous pressure from the recent "exceptional" rainfall.

Authorities noted that the situation across the region was difficult, warning of dangerous water levels on the Ural River in the regional capital city of Orenburg.

Orsk Mayor Sergei Salmin said authorities would force residents to evacuate the flooded area if they refused orders to leave. He said the Ural River had risen to 855cm and “will rise even higher”.

"The current situation leaves you with no choice. At night, the river level can rise to dangerous levels," he said. "I urge everyone in the flood zone to leave their homes immediately."

"There is no time for persuasion," Salmin stressed, adding that "those who refuse to leave the danger zone voluntarily will be forcibly evacuated with the help of the police."

Russia's emergency response agency has released footage of rescue workers travelling through flooded areas in boats and speedboats to help bring people to safety.

Neighboring Kazakhstan has also been hit hard by the floods. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said it was one of the worst natural disasters in the country in 80 years. He called on local authorities to be ready to help those affected.