Widespread flooding hits over 10,400 homes in Russia
Russia's Emergency Ministry reports that rapid snowmelt has led to the flooding of more than 10,400 homes across the country, as Europe's major rivers, including those in the Ural Mountains, experience record water levels.
The Ural River, originating in the Urals and flowing into the Caspian Sea, saw its levels rise dramatically by several meters within hours on Friday, overwhelming a dam embankment in Orsk, located 1,800 kilometers (about 1,100 miles) east of Moscow.
The ministry has also noted flooding across Siberia, along with the Volga and central Russian regions, attributing the widespread inundation to a spike in air temperatures, rapid snowmelt, and river thawing.
Currently, over 10,400 residential buildings in 39 regions remain under water, signaling a significant natural disaster impacting thousands.