Residents of Orsk, Orenburg Oblast, organized a mass rally near the town administration building. According to local media outlets Ural56.Ru and Orsk.ru, they are dissatisfied with the compensation for their property lost in the flood and the way the authorities handle the consequences of the disaster.
Hundreds of residents from the flooded town of Orsk gathered in the town hall square on April 8. They intended to record a video appeal to Vladimir Putin, expressing their dissatisfaction with the local officials' response to the disaster. Additionally, they are unhappy with the low compensation amount for their lost homes: authorities are offering only 50,000-100,000 rubles (approximately 540-1080 USD).
Later, the initiative group was invited to the administration building to meet Governor Denis Pasler. Upon entering the room, Paster rudely demanded that attendees put away their mobile phones, but they refused. During the conversation, an unidentified official remarked that the residents of Orsk 'did not suffer the most.'
Eventually, Pasler pledged to build a new dam and provide financial support to affected residents and businesses struggling to pay salaries. According to the head of the region, over 650 individuals have already obtained compensation, with another 16,000 expected to receive it this week.
Meanwhile, people who remained outside during the conversation with the governor shouted 'Shame!' at Mayor Vasiliy Kozupitsa and urged the police to protect their homes from looters rather than guarding officials.
Orenburg Oblast has declared a state of emergency. Over 6,100 individuals were evacuated from the flood zone, with 2,000 of them being residents of Orsk, where the dam broke. Four people have perished in the flood. Novotroitsk is also under threat, and evacuations are underway there.
Orenburg Mayor Sergey Salmin urged residents to leave the city immediately. According to experts, the water level is expected to soon surpass the dangerous mark of 930 centimeters.
As per the latest estimates, the flood has affected 6,700 houses in Orenburg Oblast.
