Heavy rainfall has triggered flooding across Crimea’s southern coast, forcing evacuations in Koreiz, while Russian authorities report rising river levels and declare a state of emergency.

The situation on the southern coast of Crimea, annexed by Russia, has been difficult due to a sharp rise in river levels following heavy rainfall from October 17 to 19. Russia’s regional Emergency Situations Ministry said that as of the morning of October 21, powerful torrents of water from the mountains continued to flood settlements in Greater Yalta. This was reported by Radio Svoboda.

In addition to partial flooding in the settlement of Koreiz, problems have also been reported closer to the center of Yalta itself.

“Water continues to flow down from the mountains, forming powerful torrents. High water levels have been recorded near the Huva and Derekoyka rivers in particular, but there is currently no risk of the main protective structures being breached,” the press service of Russia’s regional Emergency Situations Ministry said.

Emergency and municipal services are clearing debris from all affected areas to ensure the water can flow freely and reinforcing riverbanks. Work is underway to reinforce the banks of the Derekoyka River, while specialists are clearing the riverbed and the grounds of a flooded trolleybus depot.

Svetlana Shevchenko, acting head of the Russian-installed city administration, said that Yalta had received six times its monthly average rainfall in a single day. Residents and visitors were urged to follow safety precautions and avoid leaving their cars along the Bystra and Vodospadna rivers.

In Koreiz, the number of evacuated residents rose to 10 in 24 hours. They are still unable to return to their homes. Three people are staying at a temporary accommodation center, while the others have been taken in by relatives.

As a reminder, 509 mm of rain — six times the monthly average — fell over three days, from October 17 to 20, on the Ai-Petri plateau overlooking Crimea’s southern coast. As a result, a state of emergency was declared in the municipality.

Terrorist Threat Alert Level in Crimea

Crimea faces no threats despite Russia’s war against Ukraine, the region’s Russian authorities claim. However, since April, they have regularly declared a terrorist threat alert in four cities and two districts of the peninsula.