Russian City of Orsk Submerged in Devastating Floods, Prompting Mass Evacuation

Floodwaters in Russia's Orenburg Region, caused by dams bursting along the River Ural, have led to extensive flooding in the region's cities, particularly in Orsk. Residents protested against the government, demanding compensation and accusing authorities of mishandling the evacuation. Satellite imagery from various sources, including Sentinel-1 SAR and Umbra, revealed the extent of the flooding and the breaches in protective embankments. The embankments, designed to hold back floodwaters, collapsed in multiple locations, leading to widespread devastation. The flooding has prompted states of emergency in both Russia and Kazakhstan, with approximately 120,000 people evacuated from their homes.