Dam collapse in Buryatia triggers evacuations and chaos

Over 200 people were evacuated after yet another dam break in Russia. This time, the disaster occurred in Buryatia. In videos posted by residents, you can see, for instance, livestock carried away by the flood wave. A mudslide killed others. A state of emergency has been declared in the region.

The disaster occurred in the Muchoribinsky district in the Asian part of Russia. The region is under a state of emergency. The water flooded, among other things, a stretch of highway.

Due to heavy rainfall and rising water levels, sections of the Ulan-Ude—Chita federal highway were eroded, affecting a 590-kilometre stretch of road. The water also broke three bridges, said Governor Alexei Tsydenov.

Authorities reported that from August 1-4, three districts experienced flooding of areas and residential buildings due to heavy rainfall and rising river levels, "disruption of transportation links, breaking of bridges, destruction of roads, and loss of livestock."

The dam break at the Khonkholoyskoye reservoir also caused significant damage. Four settlements were in the path of the flood wave. One hundred residents were evacuated. The water flooded a 50-kilometre stretch of the federal highway.

According to the Syrena channel, the flood triggered a mudslide in the village of Desyatnikovo, killing dozens of livestock.

The "People of Baikal" channel published three videos. Among other things, they show a truck traffic jam caused by the flooding of the federal highway, the breaking of one of the bridges, and cows swept away by the current trying to swim to shore.

This is another incident related to a dam break in Russia. On July 26, the Kialimskoje reservoir dam broke in the Chelyabinsk region of Russia. About 200 people were in the flood zone.

On July 29, the Belomorsko-Baltic Canal in Russia was devastated. According to RIA Novosti, a temporary dam between the locks broke. One person died, and 10 were injured.