Authorities in Russia’s Dagestan region have declared a state of emergency in the capital city of Makhachkala following severe rainfall that triggered widespread flooding, landslides, and major infrastructure disruptions.
The announcement, made on Saturday via the city’s official Telegram channel, said emergency services have been placed on high alert, with response operations already underway to assist affected residents. Officials confirmed that support measures are being mobilised as communities grapple with the impact of the extreme weather conditions.
According to the statement, more than 500,000 residents have been left without electricity due to the heavy rains, with flooding identified as the primary obstacle to restoring power supply. Authorities noted that the outages are particularly severe in Makhachkala and the city of Khasavyurt, where critical infrastructure has been heavily affected.
“The main problem hampering power supply to currently unpowered homes is widespread flooding,” the statement said, adding that three major power supply centres in Makhachkala have been inundated.
The situation has been compounded by the risk and occurrence of landslides across several parts of the region. In the town of Buynaksk, officials have issued a landslide warning, prompting the evacuation of residents to safer locations. Emergency responders are working to relocate those at risk as a precautionary measure.
Reports also confirmed that landslides have already occurred in the Tlyaratinsky and Tsumadinsky districts, leading to the closure of affected road sections. Authorities said work is ongoing to clear debris and restore access, although the unstable terrain continues to pose challenges for response teams.
As of the latest update, at least 103 people have been evacuated from flooded homes, with more potentially at risk as weather conditions evolve. The Dagestan regional government has declared a broader state of high alert across the entire region, which will remain in effect until Monday, according to its press service.
The flooding has had a widespread impact on infrastructure beyond residential areas. Officials reported that power supply disruptions have affected 22 municipal districts and one urban district, highlighting the scale of the crisis across Dagestan.
Transport networks have also been significantly disrupted. Two spans of a railway bridge collapsed along the Khasavyurt–Kadiyurt section of the North Caucasus Railway, raising concerns about connectivity and the movement of goods and passengers. In addition, railway services have been temporarily suspended at Tarki station in the village of Khushet due to flooding that has rendered the tracks unsafe.
Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage to rail infrastructure, while efforts are underway to restore services once conditions improve. The disruption is expected to have a knock-on effect on regional transport and logistics.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Chechnya has also been affected by severe weather, prompting local authorities to declare a state of high alert. According to Russia’s state news agency TASS, heavy rainfall combined with strong winds has led to power outages, damaged bridges, flooding, and incidents of landslides and rockfalls in parts of the region.
Emergency services in Chechnya have been mobilised to respond to the situation, as officials monitor ongoing risks posed by the unstable weather conditions. A storm warning remains in effect across the region through the end of Sunday, with authorities urging residents to remain cautious and adhere to safety advisories.
The twin emergencies in Dagestan and Chechnya underscore the vulnerability of infrastructure and communities to extreme weather events, particularly in mountainous and flood-prone areas. Officials have not yet provided a full assessment of the economic damage, but early indications suggest significant losses to public infrastructure and private property.
Rescue and recovery operations are expected to continue in the coming days, as authorities prioritise restoring essential services, reopening transport routes, and ensuring the safety of affected populations.
As weather conditions remain uncertain, regional authorities have urged residents to stay informed through official channels and to cooperate with emergency responders as efforts continue to stabilise the situation.
