April 9, 2026
Floods in Russia's Dagestan have affected thousands. Experts say the disaster reflects not just extreme weather, but deep infrastructure failures.
More than 6,200 people were affected by a series of floods in Dagestan, the region’s head, Sergey Melikov, said on April 7. The hardest-hit areas were Makhachkala, Kaspiysk, and the Khasavyurtovsky and Derbentsky districts, though the situation is now “stabilizing,” according to Melikov.
TL;DR
- Over 6,200 people were affected by floods in Dagestan, with Makhachkala, Kaspiysk, and Khasavyurtovsky and Derbentsky districts being the hardest hit.
- At least seven people, including four children, were killed, and homes, roads, and bridges sustained damage.
- Officials cite "unprecedented" rainfall, but experts point to unregulated construction, absent drainage infrastructure, and the polluted October Revolution Canal as primary causes.
- A proposed 15 billion ruble reconstruction project for the canal, aimed at improving drainage and treatment systems, was never carried out.
- Chaotic urban growth, lack of development plans, and unauthorized construction have left Makhachkala particularly vulnerable.
- A residential building extension collapsed due to flooding, built illegally in a river floodplain.
- Poor oversight of reservoirs, such as the Gedzhukh reservoir dam failure, and clogged riverbeds also contributed to the flooding.
- Flooding in Dagestan is a recurring issue, with infrastructure problems remaining unresolved for years.
Continue reading the original article