On April 11, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting of the national headquarters for the response to unprecedented spring floods in the country’s northern regions, with the main focus on the northwestern regions, where a second wave of floods is expected.
Large volumes of water caused by the rapid spring snowmelt are expected to flow through the Zhaiyk River from Russia, where regions bordering Kazakhstan are also hit by floods.
It was said at the meeting that rains are expected in the West Kazakhstan region. Flood began on the Sakmara River. According to forecasts, water from the upper reaches of the Zhaiyk and Sakmara rivers will enter the territory of the West Kazakhstan region this week. Currently, the water level in the Zhaiyk River in the city of Uralsk is 728 cm, while, according to expectations, it will approach the critical level of 850 cm.
In the Atyrau region, due to the flow of water from the West Kazakhstan region, a slight rise in water level has also been observed at gauging stations along the Zhaiyk River over the past 24 hours. The arrival of high water is expected after April 20.
After his working trips to the West Kazakhstan and Atyrau regions, the prime minister mobilized the forces and technical resources of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Internal Affairs, National Guards, and Ministry of Defense.
In the West Kazakhstan region, the group of forces carrying out emergency rescue operations will be increased to 6 thousand people, in the Atyrau region – to 4 thousand. About 4 thousand units of equipment are being sent from different regions of the country.
“We need maximum mobilization of forces and resources in Uralsk and Atyrau. Now it is important to divert large volumes of water from populated areas,” Bektenov emphasized.
To date, a state of emergency remains in effect in eight regions. A total of 97 thousand people have been evacuated from flood zones. As of April 11, emergency situations were lifted in the Pavlodar region and Abay region due to the stabilization of the flood situation.
Photo: primeminister.kz
