Authorities in Orenburg, a Russian city located near the border with Kazakhstan, have issued a mass evacuation order as water levels in the Ural River continue to rise, posing a serious threat of further flooding. The announcement, made by Orenburg's mayor, Sergei Salmin, urged residents to urgently evacuate as sirens blared throughout the city.

In a statement posted on the messaging app Telegram, Mayor Salmin emphasized the gravity of the situation, writing, "This is not a drill. The flood situation in Orenburg is extremely dangerous." He further explained that the water level in the Ural River has risen by 40 centimeters in the past 10 hours, reaching a critical point of 11.43 meters. These alarming values prompted the evacuation call.

Disturbing images from the city depict entire districts submerged under water, showcasing the severity of the flooding. The deluge engulfed the region, situated approximately 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) southeast of Moscow, after a dam along the Ural River burst in the nearby city of Orsk under the immense pressure of surging waters. As a result, the authorities have classified the situation as an emergency of federal importance.

Reports from the state news agency Tass indicate that around 11,700 houses in the region remain inundated as of Friday, a slight decrease from the previous day's count of nearly 12,000. The water levels have receded in Orsk, leading to the successful evacuation of approximately 10,700 people from the flooded areas.

The Ural River, spanning about 2,428 kilometers (1,509 miles), originates from the southern portion of the Ural Mountains and traverses through Russia and Kazakhstan before converging into the northern part of the Caspian Sea.

Efforts are underway to mitigate the devastation caused by the flooding, with authorities working tirelessly to ensure the safety of residents and minimize further damage to infrastructure. The mass evacuation serves as an urgent reminder of the increasing challenges posed by climate change-induced natural disasters and the need for efficient disaster management strategies to avert the loss of lives and property.