Zabaikalsky Region Declares State of Emergency Following Summer Flooding

Aug. 14, 2026 Flooding in Chita, the capital of Zabaikalsky. @shcheglovais / MAХ Authorities in Far East Russia’s Zabaikalsky region declared a state of emergency on Thursday following a summer of torrential rainfall and three consecutive flood waves. Governor Alexander Osipov said Friday that the emergency declaration was needed in order to speed up financial aid to residents impacted by the flooding and repairs to damaged infrastructure. Rainfall across the region — located along the Chinese border roughly 4,700 kilometers (2,900 miles) east of Moscow — reached up to 250% of seasonal averages this summer. Emergency officials issued five separate storm warnings as three distinct flood waves battered nine municipal districts. “It’s been a tough summer,” Osipov wrote in a post on Telegram. He said there had been no reports of injuries or deaths as a result of the flooding. While Osipov confirmed that no active floodwaters remained inside homes by Friday, he noted that 95 residential properties sustained damage from intense rainfall. By comparison, major floods in 2018 and 2021 submerged more than 1,000 homes in the region, he said. Regional forecasters issued a fresh weather warning for heavy downpours through the weekend, threatening further water level spikes across local rivers. Governor Osipov estimated damage to roads and bridges at more than 350 million rubles ($4.1 million). He also noted that flood defense funding has been increased to 2 billion rubles ($23.8 million) this year. Work is underway on a 45-kilometer (28 miles) dam network intended to protect 45,000 residents once completed next year, Osipov added. The Zabaikalsky region’s deputy chief of administration, Igor Smirnov, said Monday that initial financial aid payouts to flood victims had already begun. Read more about: Weather , Zabaikalsky , 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 Deadly Storm Batters Smolensk Region, Leaving Thousands Without Power A child and an elderly woman were killed by falling trees in the regional capital as winds reached gusts of up to 20 meters per second. 1 Min read State of Emergency Declared in Parts of Sverdlovsk Region Over Severe Storms and Flooding Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms struck the Ural Mountains region last Friday, knocking out electricity across 25 towns and villages. 1 Min read In Photos: Murmansk Left in the Dark After Arctic Storm Batters Power Grid Russia's northern Murmansk region is under a state of emergency after a strong winter storm damaged the aging power grid, leaving parts of the region without... 1 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