Russia Sees Rare Protest After Orsk Dam Collapse And Flooding As Locals Demand Compensation

Russian city of Orsk's citizens have come together to demonstrate against flooding and dam collapse in the neighboring Orenburg region, which borders Kazakhstan.

Residents are being evacuated collectively due to flooding after a dam burst in the city of Orsk, Russia on April 05, 2024.

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Residents of Orsk, a city in Russia, have gathered for protest, demanding compensation in the aftermath of a dam collapse and subsequent flooding in the nearby Orenburg region, bordering Kazakhstan. Hundreds of people gathered in front of the administrative building in Orsk Monday, and videos shared on Russian social media depicted people chanting with slogans “Putin, help us,” and “shame," AFP cites Russian state news agency Tass as reporting.

Rise In Water Level Of Ural River Triggers Flooding

The flooding, triggered by heightened water levels in the Ural River, necessitated the evacuation of over 4,000 people, including 885 children, from the Orenburg region, according to statements from the regional government on Sunday. Tass also reported that approximately 10,000 homes, including 7,000 in Orsk, have been flooded, with water levels in the city continuing to rise.

On Sunday, Russia's government declared a federal emergency in flood-affected areas of Orenburg, with preparations underway for potential flooding in three other regions, according to state media.

Following the protest, Governor Denis Pasler of the Orenburg region pledged compensation payments of 10,000 rubles per month (approximately $108) for six months to individuals displaced by the flood, as reported by Tass. The total estimated damage from the flood in the region amounts to around 21 billion rubles ($227 million), according to statements from the regional government on Sunday.

Orsk, located less than 20 kilometers (approximately 13 miles) north of the Kazakhstan border, bore the brunt of the floods resulting from the dam breach on Friday, according to Orsk Mayor Vasily Kozupitsa.

Orsk Flood: Investigation Launched Against Construction Violations

An investigation has been launched to examine potential construction violations that may have contributed to the dam failure. Local authorities stated that the dam was designed to withstand water levels up to 5.5 meters (approximately 18 feet). However, by Saturday morning, the water level had reached about 9.3 meters (30.51 feet) and continued to rise, reaching 9.7 meters (31.82 feet) in Orsk on Sunday, according to Russia's water level monitoring site, AllRivers.

Authorities in Orsk confirmed four deaths but stated that they were unrelated to the flooding. Footage from Orsk and Orenburg depicted streets submerged in water with single-story houses partially submerged.

The declaration of a federal emergency underscores the risk of flooding extending beyond the Orenburg region.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Sunday that President Vladimir Putin had discussed the situation with the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, as well as with officials from the Kurgan and Tyumen regions in the Ural Mountains area, emphasising the importance of implementing measures promptly to aid affected individuals and potentially facilitate their evacuation.

The Ural River, stretching approximately 2,428 kilometers (1,509 miles) from the southern section of the Ural Mountains to the northern tip of the Caspian Sea, traverses Russia and Kazakhstan.