The main thing about the situation in Orsk after the dam break: the threat of forced evacuation and intestinal infections

The day before, April 5, in Orsk burst bulk dam on the Ural River. Before the breakthrough in the region, due to floods, the largest release of water was made from the Iriklinsky reservoir, and the head of Orsk, Vasily Kozupitsa, assured that the dam should withstand the release. All the most important things about the situation in the region are in Kommersant’s collection.

• Dam break amounts to about 10 meters, the government of the Orenburg region said. The dam is currently no longer collapsing, reported Interfax in the press service of the governor and government.
• From the evening of April 5 was evacuated 1,121 people, including 331 children, 283 people are in temporary temporary detention facilities, the press service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported. The population of Orsk is approximately 189 thousand people, as of December 2023.
• In Orsk, 2,450 houses and 3,185 adjacent areas remain flooded after the dam broke. Total in the Orenburg region after a dam break flooded more than 4.4 thousand houses.
• Residents of Orsk on social networks report the third dam break in the Old Town area.
• Water level in Orsk has reached 960 cm, while the embankment dam in the city is designed to rise water up to 700 cm. In Orenburg, the water level is approaching critical.
• Eight residents hospitalized with norovirus after drinking tap water. In total, 18 people with intestinal infections sought medical help, the regional Ministry of Health reports. In the flood-damaged part of Orsk disabled water supply.
• Two men died, their deaths were not related to the dam failure, it says in a message from the Department of the Ministry of Health for the Orenburg Region.
• Six medical institutions hit to the flood zone, 88 patients, including one child, were transferred to other hospitals in the city.
• Governor of the Orenburg Region Denis Pasler named the situation is complicated. He ordered double all payments to victims.
• Mayor of Orenburg Sergei Salmin threatened forced evacuation of residents in the flood zone.
• Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation excited a criminal case regarding violation of safety rules during construction work (Part 1 of Article 216 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and negligence (Part 1 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Prosecutor’s office reportedthat Rostekhnadzor authorities had previously identified violations in the maintenance of the dam.
• Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Victoria Abramchenko held an operational meeting with representatives of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Rosvodresursy, Roshydromet and representatives of regional and municipal authorities on the flood situation in the Orenburg region.
• For the evacuation, assistance and rescue of victims in Orsk, floating transporters are used that can accommodate up to 50 people at a time, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reported. Consequences of a dam failure eliminate more than 500 rescuers.