Anger boils over for some amid record floods in Russia's Urals

Rescuers search for residents to evacuate as they drive in a flooded residential area in the city of Orsk, Russia, April 6, 2024, in this still image taken from video. Russian Emergencies Ministry/Handout via REUTERS/ File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) -At least 100 Russians asked for help from President Vladimir Putin on Monday in a city struck by the worst flooding ever recorded, chanting "shame on you" at local officials who they said had done too little to help their plight.

Russia declared an emergency in the Orenburg region near Kazakhstan after the Ural River, Europe's third longest river, swelled several metres in hours on Friday, and burst through a dam embankment in the city of Orsk.