Orsk after the flooding. Photo: Ural56.ru

Massive rainfall has ruptured a dam in the Russian Urals city of Orsk on Friday, killing at least three people and forcing thousands to evacuate.

State news agency TASS reported that three people had been found dead in Orsk as of Saturday morning, adding that the dam installed on the Ural River had collapsed completely, and the water level continued to rise.

Local authorities announced that over 4,200 people had been evacuated from the flooded area. Rescue services are working on site.

Head of Orsk Vasily Kozupitsa told a local media outlet that the situation was “changing for the worse”, adding that the water was unlikely to recede over a period up to two weeks and offering temporary accommodation to the evacuees.

The Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case into the Orsk dam collapse for “violation of safety rules during construction” and “negligence”.