Russia floods: Ural river reaches critical level in Orenburg

Many villages in the region of Orenburg are now completely flooded

Russia has said the situation is "very, very tense" as floodwaters continue to rise in the city of Orenburg and surrounding areas.

"Large amounts of water are coming to new regions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned on Wednesday.

The flooding is being described as the worst to hit the region in 80 years.

Water levels in the Ural river near Orenburg rose to over 10m (33ft) on Wednesday, Ria news agency reported, well above its bursting point.

Thousands of people have had to flee their homes in southern Russia, while officials in neighbouring Kazakhstan say the number of evacuees there has risen to 97,000.

Last week, several rivers - including the Ural, Europe's third-largest - burst their banks after rapidly melting snow and ice caused them to swell.

The Ural flows through the city of Orsk, on to Orenburg, into Kazakhstan and then on to the Caspian Sea. Floodwaters are threatening several areas of northern Kazakhstan and many dams and reservoirs are filled to capacity.

Entire villages have been engulfed by overflowing rivers. As many as 2,000 homes have been flooded in Orenburg, where water levels have surpassed the critical level of 9.3m and still rising. The city has a population of 550,000 and lies about 1,500km (930 miles) south-east of Moscow.

"So far, the forecast is not favourable. The water level continues to rise," Mr Peskov said, adding that a "large amount" of floodwater would soon also reach the nearby regions of Kurgan and Tyumen.

Mr Peskov added that the situation "of course requires the most energetic efforts from government officials at all levels to help people".

He said President Vladimir Putin was not intending to visit the flood zone and said the Russian leader was instead "getting information and co-ordinated the work of all branches of authorities".

Orsk, about 300km (180 miles) downstream from Orenburg, was flooded when water burst through a dam embankment. Authorities there say the situation is now stable.

Earlier this week in Orsk, angry flood victims shouted '"Shame on you!" at local officials, in response to low compensation offers and officials' perceived failure to prevent the dam from bursting.

They also chanted, "Putin help us" - a reminder that in Russia, in times of trouble, very often the president is the last person people blame for their problems. On the contrary, they look to the Kremlin for help.

Flooding often happens in Russia when winter transitions to spring. But there has been nothing on this scale in living memory.

North Kazakhstan regional leader Gauez Nurmukhambetov has warned that a "huge flow" of water is heading to the city of Petropavl, with a population of 200,000.

"Once again, I emphasise, huge!" he said.