Emergencies Ministry head names disaster risk zones in 2025

In 2025, risks of flooding may occur in Kurgan, Tyumen and Murmansk regions. This was reported by the head of the Russian Emergencies Ministry Alexander Kurenkov on December 27.

It is specified that the agency has already started preparations for the flood-hazardous period, despite the fact that the expected forecast of spring floods will appear only in February 2025.

"High water levels are predicted on the rivers of Western Siberia, in Ob, Tobol and Ishim. Risks of waterlogging are relevant for the Kurgan and Tyumen regions due to increased discharges from Kazakhstan's hydroelectric power plants," RBC news agency quotes Kurenkov as saying.

The head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations also noted that in Yakutia the ice thickness in some parts of the Lena River is already above the norm by 15 cm, and in the rivers of Murmansk region the level exceeds the long-term values by about 1 meter.

Speaking about the probability of natural fires, he singled out the southern regions of Transbaikalia, Tuva, Khabarovsk and Primorsky Krai.

The agency noted that in recent years more fires have broken out in the south of the Urals Federal District (UFD). Kurenkov explained this phenomenon by climatic changes.

Among other things, he stressed that the Emergencies Ministry has modernized technologies, including satellite monitoring, drones and stationary cameras, which significantly increase the speed and efficiency of response to seasonal natural hazards and disasters.

Kurenkov said the previous day that natural hazards will become more frequent, leading to an increase in the number of emergencies. According to him, abnormally high or low temperatures, heavy downpours, winds, hail, floods, droughts can be noticed more and more.