Over 4,000 people were forced to leave their homes after major floods hit the Russian city of Orsk on Saturday (Apr 6).

Rising water in the Ural River flooded riverside settlements and caused a dam to burst.&nbsp;

Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov on Sunday (Apr 7) released a statement saying that the flood situation has turned "critical" after the dam burst.

"A critical situation has developed in the city of Orsk" in the southern Urals close to the border with Kazakhstan, he said from the city of 200,000 people.

The people evacuated from the area have been sent to temporary housing centres, said Kurenkov.

As per news agency AFP reports, the images spread out on social media platform Telegram's channel showed the minister on a small boat surrounded by members of the emergency services.

The dam in the Orenburg region burst on Friday night (Apr 5) due to torrential rains.

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<h2>Authorities open criminal case in the incident</h2>

Authorities have opened a criminal case in the incident over "negligence and violation of construction safety rules" following the dam burst.

The dam was built in the year 2014.

The authorities have also issued a warning that there could be a dangerous rise in the water level on the Ural River in the main city of Orenburg.

As per AFP reports, a "federal emergency" has been declared in the region with additional funding and reinforcements being sent to the area to address the pressing situation.

Melting ice at this time of year has further worsened the current situation.

The dam was designed to control a 5.5-metre water level in the Ural River which has now risen to nine metres.

The mayor of Orenburg, Sergei Salmin, issued a warning to half a million people of the city that they also might be asked to evacuate their homes if the dire situation persists.

"The situation remains critical. The water is arriving and in the coming days, its level will only rise," Salmin wrote on Telegram, adding that the water level had risen 28 centimetres since the previous day.

The Russian weather authorities believe that on Wednesday it will reach its peak level.

(With inputs from agencies)

Over 4,000 people were forced to leave their homes after major floods hit the Russian city of Orsk on Saturday (Apr 6). Rising water in the Ural River flooded riverside settlements and caused a dam to burst.

Over 4,000 people were forced to leave their homes after major floods hit the Russian city of Orsk on Saturday (Apr 6). Rising water in the Ural River flooded riverside settlements and caused a dam to burst. Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov on Sunday (Apr 7) released a statement saying that the flood situation has turned "critical" after the dam burst. "A critical situation has developed in the city of Orsk" in the southern Urals close to the border with Kazakhstan, he said from the city of 200,000 people. The people evacuated from the area have been sent to temporary housing centres, said Kurenkov. As per news agency AFP reports, the images spread out on social media platform Telegram's channel showed the minister on a small boat surrounded by members of the emergency services. The dam in the Orenburg region burst on Friday night (Apr 5) due to torrential rains. Also read: Ukrainian troops terrified as Russia intensifies use of chemical weapons: Report Authorities open criminal case in the incident Authorities have opened a criminal case in the incident over "negligence and violation of construction safety rules" following the dam burst. The dam was built in the year 2014. The authorities have also issued a warning that there could be a dangerous rise in the water level on the Ural River in the main city of Orenburg. As per AFP reports, a "federal emergency" has been declared in the region with additional funding and reinforcements being sent to the area to address the pressing situation. Melting ice at this time of year has further worsened the current situation. The dam was designed to control a 5.5-metre water level in the Ural River which has now risen to nine metres. The mayor of Orenburg, Sergei Salmin, issued a warning to half a million people of the city that they also might be asked to evacuate their homes if the dire situation persists. "The situation remains critical. The water is arriving and in the coming days, its level will only rise," Salmin wrote on Telegram, adding that the water level had risen 28 centimetres since the previous day. The Russian weather authorities believe that on Wednesday it will reach its peak level. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia: Situation ‘critical’ in Orsk after severe flooding causes dam to burst

As a result of repeated thunderstorms battering the British capital on Sunday, buses and cars were left stranded on flooded roads in London.

Emergency services were battling "significant flooding across London", Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted, adding that all public transport services were affected and advising people to avoid walking or driving through flooded areas.&nbsp;

There were a lot of videos of partially submerged vehicles in southwest London on social media, with more heavy rain set to fall as a band of thunderstorms made its way across southeast England. The Met has issued amber weather warning London and surrounding counties until 7 pm local time

It warned there was a risk of lightning strikes and flooding, with up to 10 centimetres (four inches) of rain forecast to fall in some areas, almost double the monthly average for July.

Police closed a road near Queenstown Road station in southwest London, where three double-decker London buses were stuck under a railway bridge, according to an AFP journalist.

A driver, who gave his name as Eric, said &nbsp;passengers had to get off after his bus started taking on water.&nbsp;

Other motorists in Walthamstow, northeast London, abandoned their vehicles as the rain hammered down.

Police said they were "currently dealing with numerous floods in the east," warning that tunnels and roundabouts were submerged.

(With inputs from agencies)

As a result of repeated thunderstorms battering the British capital on Sunday, buses and cars were left stranded on flooded roads in London. Emergency services were battling "significant flooding across London", Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted, adding that all public transport services were affected and advising people to avoid walking or driving through flooded areas.

As a result of repeated thunderstorms battering the British capital on Sunday, buses and cars were left stranded on flooded roads in London. Emergency services were battling "significant flooding across London", Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted, adding that all public transport services were affected and advising people to avoid walking or driving through flooded areas. There were a lot of videos of partially submerged vehicles in southwest London on social media, with more heavy rain set to fall as a band of thunderstorms made its way across southeast England. The Met has issued amber weather warning London and surrounding counties until 7 pm local time It warned there was a risk of lightning strikes and flooding, with up to 10 centimetres (four inches) of rain forecast to fall in some areas, almost double the monthly average for July. Police closed a road near Queenstown Road station in southwest London, where three double-decker London buses were stuck under a railway bridge, according to an AFP journalist. A driver, who gave his name as Eric, said passengers had to get off after his bus started taking on water. Other motorists in Walthamstow, northeast London, abandoned their vehicles as the rain hammered down. Police said they were "currently dealing with numerous floods in the east," warning that tunnels and roundabouts were submerged. (With inputs from agencies)

Thunderstorms flood London streets, Tube stations and hospitals hit

Several subway stations were flooded and major roads were cut in New York on Thursday ahead of the expected arrival of Storm&nbsp;Elsa, which has moved up the US East Coast after lashing Florida with wind and rain.

Between 2 and 4 inches of water fell in a series of thunderstorms over the city and surrounding areas on Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service (NWS) said, "causing extensive flash flooding in certain places."

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Subway passengers posted video footage on Twitter of flooded platforms at the 157th Street station north of Manhattan.

Commuters could be seen waist-deep in the water, crossing a dark pool to reach the station's platforms.

"Lines 1 and A have really taken a hit, with a lot of flooding in the stations," Sarah Feinberg, head of the MTA, New York's public transport authority, said on Thursday at a press briefing.

Some major roads, including in the Bronx, were temporarily closed, disrupting traffic. New York police tweeted footage of motorists being stranded by the water.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-killed-as-tropical-storm-elsa-lashes-dominican-republic-395954">Two killed as tropical storm Elsa lashes Dominican Republic</a>

The NWS warned of possible new flooding by Friday morning, with the expected arrival of heavy rains brought by Storm&nbsp;Elsa, which is moving up from Florida.

Despite work to protect the city against flooding since Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which killed 44 people and paralyzed the American economic capital for days, New York remains very vulnerable to flooding, with such incidents expected to increase because of climate change.

Several officials, including Eric Adams, president of Brooklyn and the favourite for the November mayoral election in New York after winning the Democratic primary this week, called for urgent investments to fortify the city's infrastructure.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tropical-storm-elsa-churns-past-haiti-headed-for-cuba-395659">Tropical storm Elsa churns past Haiti, headed for Cuba</a>

"Extreme weather episodes like this are not going to go away," warned one of his primary opponents, Kathryn Garcia, who oversaw the water pumping after Hurricane Sandy.

"We must invest in strategies to protect the city," she said.

Several subway stations were flooded and major roads were cut in New York on Thursday ahead of the expected arrival of Storm Elsa, which has moved up the US East Coast after lashing Florida with wind and rain.

Several subway stations were flooded and major roads were cut in New York on Thursday ahead of the expected arrival of Storm Elsa, which has moved up the US East Coast after lashing Florida with wind and rain. Between 2 and 4 inches of water fell in a series of thunderstorms over the city and surrounding areas on Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service (NWS) said, "causing extensive flash flooding in certain places." Also read | Tropical Storm Elsa strengthens to hurricane as it closes in on Florida Subway passengers posted video footage on Twitter of flooded platforms at the 157th Street station north of Manhattan. Commuters could be seen waist-deep in the water, crossing a dark pool to reach the station's platforms. "Lines 1 and A have really taken a hit, with a lot of flooding in the stations," Sarah Feinberg, head of the MTA, New York's public transport authority, said on Thursday at a press briefing. Some major roads, including in the Bronx, were temporarily closed, disrupting traffic. New York police tweeted footage of motorists being stranded by the water. Also read | Two killed as tropical storm Elsa lashes Dominican Republic The NWS warned of possible new flooding by Friday morning, with the expected arrival of heavy rains brought by Storm Elsa, which is moving up from Florida. Despite work to protect the city against flooding since Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which killed 44 people and paralyzed the American economic capital for days, New York remains very vulnerable to flooding, with such incidents expected to increase because of climate change. Several officials, including Eric Adams, president of Brooklyn and the favourite for the November mayoral election in New York after winning the Democratic primary this week, called for urgent investments to fortify the city's infrastructure. Also read | Tropical storm Elsa churns past Haiti, headed for Cuba "Extreme weather episodes like this are not going to go away," warned one of his primary opponents, Kathryn Garcia, who oversaw the water pumping after Hurricane Sandy. "We must invest in strategies to protect the city," she said.

Flooding in New York as Storm Elsa expected to hit

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Russia: Situation ‘critical’ in Orsk after severe flooding causes dam to burst

Thunderstorms flood London streets, Tube stations and hospitals hit

Flooding in New York as Storm Elsa expected to hit