Rain disaster: flooding in Dagestan claimed the lives of eight people

At least eight people could have died in Dagestan due to flooding after heavy rains that hit the republic on April 4 and 5, Izvestia estimated based on reports in official sources and the media. Currently, more than 2 thousand residential buildings in nine settlements have been flooded in the region, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reported. Due to the erosion of the ground in Makhachkala, a three-story building collapsed, and four more high—rise buildings are in the risk zone. More than 4 thousand people were evacuated in the Derbent region — the dam of the reservoir broke there. At the same time, heavy rains will not end soon, meteorologists predict. How the region is struggling with flooding is in the Izvestia article.

What is happening in Dagestan

The torrential rains that began on April 4-5 and caused the second wave of severe flooding in the North Caucasus will not end soon, Tatyana Pozdnyakova, a leading specialist at the Meteonosti agency, told Izvestia.

— If there is a respite in the rains, it will be only for one day, and then heavy rains in the Caucasus will continue again. In the coming days, the weather there will be determined by a cyclone from the south. Atmospheric fronts will reach the Stavropol Territory," she explained.

There is also a threat of landslides and rockfalls in the region, as well as mudslides, the Ministry of Emergency Situations noted. "All emergency services of the republic are working around the clock," the ministry said in a statement.

In nine settlements of Dagestan, more than 2,000 houses were flooded due to the weather, and many residents were left without electricity and mobile communications. 1.8 thousand household plots and 173 sections of highways were also washed away.

"There are 731 people in 15 temporary accommodation facilities, including 241 children," the Russian Emergencies Ministry said.

This is the second wave of flooding. The first one happened at the end of March, and also because of heavy rains. Then the local authorities introduced an emergency regime in Makhachkala, Buinaksk, Dagestan Lights, Kaspiysk, Khasavyurt, as well as in Derbent, Karabudakhkentsky and Khasavyurt districts and evacuated more than 3.3 thousand people. According to estimates by the regional government, the total material damage from the first impact of the disaster amounted to 4 billion rubles.

The head of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, and the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Alexander Kurenkov, reported on the situation to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on April 6, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The Head of State gave the necessary instructions to all relevant agencies to provide assistance to people.

In addition, Vladimir Putin instructed to hold a meeting on April 7 with representatives of Dagestan, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and other federal agencies to discuss the situation in the republic in detail.

Flood victims

New rains caused flooding and the collapse of a bridge on the federal highway "Kavkaz" in the village of Kala, the regional authorities reported on April 5. Rescuers pulled seven people out of the water, who were swept away by the current of the river. Doctors were unable to resuscitate a pregnant woman and a 12-year-old child.

Also, after a dam burst near the village of Gejukh, a car with five passengers was washed into the canal. Two children died. In the same area, a similar incident occurred with another car — an elderly woman and her granddaughter were killed.

The body of another woman was found under the rubble of a house that collapsed in the village of Kirki, Kaytag district, the head of the municipality, Zapir Hasanov, said on April 5. A five-year-old girl who was swept away by the current was found dead near the village of Mamedkala in the Derbent region, local authorities reported on April 6.

But so far, local authorities have not officially announced the death toll. And on April 6, the Investigative Committee confirmed the deaths of four people in the Derbent district of Dagestan.

Building collapse

On April 5, a three-story extension of an apartment building collapsed in the city of Makhachkala. Rescuers evacuated 500 people, including 150 children, the regional authorities said. Four neighboring high-rise buildings were cordoned off due to the threat of collapse.

The problems with flooding in Makhachkala are largely related to the "thoughtless development of the coastal zone," the head of the republic, Sergei Melikov, wrote on his social networks.

"Several houses have been built right in the riverbed itself. Buildings prevent the natural flow of water, which finds other ways: streets, houses, residential areas," he explained.

In addition, according to the mayor of Makhachkala, Dzhambulat Salavov, the high-rise buildings were built on a plot of land intended for individual housing construction.

Railway tracks in Dagestan were flooded, which led to the cancellation of 13 suburban trains, the regional Ministry of Transport reported on April 6. Rescuers evacuated 119 passengers of two trains on the Makhachkala—Derbent section. People were taken out on buses.

In Derbent district, the authorities evacuated more than 4,000 people due to a dam break at the Gejuk reservoir. The main impact of the disaster fell on the village of Mamedkala — according to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, about 260 houses were flooded there. In addition, the settlements of Yuny Plowman, Gejuk and Kala were affected.

Effects of flooding on health and ecology

Flooding in Dagestan can lead to catastrophic consequences for the environment, environmentalist Maxim Tokarev predicted.

— In case of severe flooding, not only settlements are flooded, but also sanitary areas (areas around factories, sewage treatment plants and cemeteries. — Ed.), where there is an accumulation of dangerous chemicals — the water spreads them very quickly," he explained.

The expert stressed that chemicals from the water go into the soil, on which it is subsequently impossible to grow anything. In addition, harmful substances evaporate into the atmosphere along with water and spread to neighboring regions in the form of rains.

— Of course, severe harm is caused to animals and birds. The food supply is immediately lost, and their habitats are flooded. The surviving individuals have to move," said Maxim Tokarev.

Contact with contaminated water can provoke a number of diseases in humans, Andrey Kondrakhin, a therapist and candidate of medical sciences, told Izvestia.

— Water is one of the main sources of infection. Especially if we are talking about water polluted with urban sewage and toxic heavy metals. There may be an outbreak of cholera, an anthrax epidemic," the expert said.

According to the doctor, the first symptoms of dirty water poisoning are fever, nausea, vomiting, weakness and blurred consciousness.

He advised residents of Dagestan to use only imported and bottled water, and it is also worth rinsing food products with it. In addition, it is necessary to wash your hands thoroughly.