Floods grip Kazakhstan and Russia as tributaries of Ob rise

Artist Nikolai Kryuchkov stands on the roof of his flooded house in Orenburg, Russia, April 13, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Reshetnikov

PETROPAVLOVSK, Kazakhstan (Reuters) -Swathes of northern Kazakhstan and Russia's Urals region were flooded on Monday as melt waters swelled the tributaries of the world's seventh longest river system, forcing more than 125,000 people to flee their homes.

Russia's southern Ural region and northern Kazakhstan have been grappling with the worst flooding in living memory after very large snow falls melted swiftly amid heavy rain over land already waterlogged before winter.