Beds and Sofas Float in Chelyabinsk Village Flood

In the village of Esaulsky near Chelyabinsk, homes were flooded on the night of Monday, July 20. In some houses, water stood in crawl spaces and basements; in others, it entered kitchens and rooms. Victims blame a local swamp, whose water level rose to critical levels in just a couple of hours. Here are images of the aftermath.

‘The rain lasted two hours, the swamp overflowed,’ said Polina. ‘Water is coming out of electrical outlets; basements with winter supplies, gardens, garages, and cars are flooded. In some houses, beds, sofas, and other furniture are floating.’

Among the victims, according to local residents, are large families and relatives of SVO (Special Military Operation) participants.

‘The swamp is also located near the Esaulsky cemetery and is flooding the graves,’ said Ruslan. ‘In the evening there was a heavy downpour, and the swamp overflowed its banks, flowing down the road through the village. It«s terrible what is happening! Basements in residential buildings are filled to the very top.’

Residents offer several versions of why an ordinary rain caused the flooding.

‘The large-scale flooding began after the construction of a new sewer collector, although residents were promised that no changes would occur in their lives,’ said Polina. ‘At the same time, the problem is compounded by the lack of storm drains. During heavy rainfall, the water simply has nowhere to go, causing streets and residential buildings to be flooded.’

However, the district administration does not link the collector and the flood.

‘Due to the abundant amount of precipitation, flooding occurred in several apartment buildings, private homes, and the cemetery grounds. The factor of the construction of the new collector as a cause of the flooding is not confirmed,’ the authorities commented. ‘To assess the situation and establish the exact causes of the flooding, administration specialists have been dispatched to the site.’

Residents were promised they would not be left to cope with the flood alone.

‘Continuous water level monitoring is underway, drainage work has been organized, and the operation of storm drains and water discharge systems is being controlled. Additionally, water pumping is planned and, if necessary, the construction of temporary drainage channels,’ the district administration listed.

In case of emergencies, residents can contact the unified duty-dispatch service at: 112 or (35144) 3‑22‑91.

The prosecutor«s office has already taken up the situation in Esaulsky.

‘An inspection of compliance with federal legislation has been organized, including the causes and conditions of the situation that led to the flooding,’ said Natalya Mamaeva, senior assistant to the regional prosecutor.

Recall that last week homes were flooded in Verkhny Ufaley.