Tyumen Region Declares State of Emergency as It Braces for Major Flooding

July 28, 2026 The Tura River in the city of Tyumen seen flooding parts of the regional capital in late July 2027. Telegram Western Siberia’s Tyumen region is bracing for potential catastrophic flooding this week after the Tura River, which runs through its capital city, surged to dangerous levels and authorities preemptively declared a state of emergency. “The flood situation remains critical, with water levels in the Tura River continuing to rise,” Governor Alexander Moor wrote in a Telegram post on Tuesday. “In light of this, a regional state of emergency will take effect in Tyumen and the Tyumen District today at 12 p.m.” Water levels in the Tura River have climbed to 8.77 meters (28.8 feet), Moor said, and are expected to keep rising following heavy rainfall across the Tyumen and neighboring Sverdlovsk region. Regional authorities had earlier declared a state of heightened alert across the area surrounding the city of Tyumen due to localized flooding. Forecasters expect floodwater to peak between Friday and next Monday. Moor said earlier this week that he directed local officials to maintain round-the-clock monitoring of all dams and levees and to immediately reinforce any breaches or leaks with sandbags and soil. Teams have also been ordered to evacuate elderly and vulnerable residents from high-risk zones in advance. The Tura River serves as the primary source of municipal drinking water for the city's nearly 900,000 residents. Following earlier floods in July, Tyumen residents complained of “a sharp, unbearable smell of sewage, swamp muck, rot and dead fish” coming from their tap water. An online petition demanding clean water claimed some residents developed skin rashes, allergic reactions and symptoms of poisoning after drinking it. Read more about: Tyumen , Weather , Regions Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more As Russia’s Regions Battle Floods, Local Officials Hide Real Damage and Pray to God As peak flooding season hits regions across the Urals and Siberia, regional officials appear ill-prepared to manage such disasters. 3 Min read River Levels in Western Siberia Set to Peak Later Than Forecast Due to ‘Abnormal’ Flooding Tyumen region Governor Alexander Moor said water in the Tobol River was moving “very slowly because it’s spilling over the floodplain.” 1 Min read Russia’s Ishim River Swells to Record High Amid Widespread Flooding Authorities in the Tyumen region said the high water levels have led to a traffic jam stretching around 60 kilometers along a major highway. 1 Min read More Evacuations in Russia’s Urals, Western Siberia as Water Levels Rise Authorities in the Kurgan and Tyumen regions have urged residents to flee as the nearby Tobol and Ishim rivers swell to dangerous levels. 2 Min read