Snow Disburses Faster, 10,400 Houses Are Flooded Throughout Russia

Photos of flooded air in the city of Orsk, Russia. (TAS/Egor Aleev)

JAKARTA - More than 10,400 houses across Russia were flooded as rapidly melting snow caused several of Europe's largest rivers to overflow, setting a record water level in the Ural Mountains, Russia's Ministry of Emergency said.

The Ural River, which empties in the Ural Mountains and flows into the Kaspia Sea, overflowed in just a few hours on Friday due to the melting snow, overflowing through a dam embankment in the eastern city of Orsk, 1,800 km (1,100 miles) east of Moscow.

Local officials said the dam in Orsk was built with a water level of 5.5 meters (18 feet). However, the water in the Ural River rose to 9.6 meters (31.5 feet).

Floods were also reported in Siberia, Volga, and Russia's central region.

"The increase in air temperature, active snow disbursement, and river overflow are expected to occur," the Russian emergency ministry said.

More than 10,400 residential buildings are still flooded in 39 areas.

Previously, the Mayor of Orsk Vasily Kozupitsa, as quoted by the Russian news agency, said the second river in the city, Yelshanka, was also overflowing. Actions are underway to evacuate residents from affected areas.

More than 6,100 people have been evacuated from the city of 230,000 people, according to local authorities. Fifteen of the 40 schools at the school were flooded.

Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin ordered Emergency Minister Alexander Kurenkov to fly to the region. The Kremlin said on Sunday the floods were now inevitable in Ural's territory in Kurgan and Siberian territory in Tyumen.

President Putin has spoken with governors in the region by telephone, the Kremlin said.