In Orenburg, one of the worst affected cities by a wave of flooding in Russia and Kazakhstan, the rising waters of the Ural River partially submerge certain roads and flow into residential areas, overwhelming neighbourhoods. Fast-rising temperatures have melted snow and ice, and along with heavy rains have caused a number of major rivers to overflow. "There has been an increase in the number of homes being flooded this morning [Saturday] and more evacuations are taking place," says Eldar Rakhmetov, an official at Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations. In all, tens of thousands in Russia and Kazakhstan have been evacuated, authorities have said. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES