Severe flooding in southern Russia and Kazakhstan, exacerbated by heavy rain, rapid snowmelt, and climate change, has led to mass evacuations and infrastructure damage.

In Kazakhstan, 76,000 people were evacuated due to dike ruptures in the city of Orsk, while in Russia's Orenburg region, over 4,000 people were forced to leave their homes with around 10,000 properties affected.

The Russian government has declared a federal emergency and is offering compensation of 10,000 rubles per month for six months to flood victims, as the total damages are estimated at 21 billion rubles.

A criminal investigation is underway to probe construction violations linked to the dam failure in Russia, while in Kazakhstan, the president has labeled the flooding the worst natural disaster in 80 years.

The floods have caused four deaths and additional infrastructure collapse, including an overpass in the Smolensk region, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries.

Protests in Orsk, Russia highlight the citizens' demand for compensation and government accountability in the wake of the disaster, with President Putin ordering a special commission to manage the crisis.