Severe Flooding Forces Evacuations in Oymyakon and Surrounding Areas

On Wednesday, the Russian government initiated evacuations in certain areas of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) following significant rainfall that led to severe flooding in some of the coldest inhabited regions on the planet, such as the village of Oymyakon.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations reported a rise in water levels in three local rivers, resulting in the inundation of Oymyakon and three nearby communities. As a precaution, the Oymyakon, Momsky, and Tomponsky districts were placed on high alert on Tuesday, and officials advised residents to remain indoors.

Dmitry Sadovnikov, a senior official in the Sakha administration, indicated that the flooding affected nearly 700 individuals, including 163 children. At least 33 people were relocated to temporary shelters in Oymyakon, while 52 others sought safety with family members.

Local news outlets reported that some residents evacuated before rescue teams could reach them. Fortunately, there have been no reports of fatalities or injuries so far.

In the adjacent Magadan region, the Berelekh River overflowed, resulting in the destruction of two bridges and flooding a hospital along with several homes.

Officials stated that recovery operations would commence once the water levels decrease. There are no additional rainfall predictions for the week ahead, according to forecasts.

Climate scientists have long cautioned that Russia is heating up 2.5 times faster than the global average, making it increasingly susceptible to extreme weather phenomena, including extended heatwaves and heavy rainfall.