Flood forecast: Atyrau prepares specific plan for protective dams and structures, bypass and discharge channels

In general, the flood situation remains difficult across the country. 3,698 private residential houses in 6 regions remain submerged. Overflows continue on 155 road sections. 88 road washouts, including 4 bridges, are under control. 58 settlements are without transport communication, food and medicines are being delivered. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev at a field meeting of the Republican headquarters for coordination of flood control measures and elimination of consequences of floods under the leadership of Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.

Thus, in 10 regions an emergency situation of local scale was declared: in Abay region, Akmola region, Aktobe region, Atyrau region, WKO, Karaganda region, Kostanay region, Pavlodar region, Ulytau region, SKO. More than 17 thousand people, more than 1.9 thousand units of equipment, about 500 units of water pumping and swimming means are involved in rescue operations. More than 70 thousand people have been evacuated from the emergency zones, of which about 17 thousand are children. 

"According to the forecast, warm weather will continue in the near future across the country. Intensive snowmelt and filling of reservoirs will continue. To date, the area of snow coverage in the country as a whole is 15%, in the northern, eastern and central regions - about 40%," Bozumbayev said.

In particular, in Atyrau region, the emergency regime is still in place in Zhylyoi district. On 5 April, the river Zhem and its channel Kursai went out of its banks due to rising water levels. 2,810 residential houses in the city of Kulsary were flooded. More than 29,000 people were evacuated from the emergency zones, including more than 7,000 children.

"Yesterday and today we flew over the flooded settlements. According to the results of completed overflights upstream of the river Zhem up to the border of Aktobe region there is a decrease in the water level in the river, but the water will continue to flow for 3-4 days. In addition, due to the predicted rise in the water level on the river Zhaiyk in Atyrau region above critical levels due to the inflow from the river Ilek in Aktobe region and increased discharges from the Iriklinskoe reservoir of the Russian Federation in the region there are still threats of flooding. I have instructed the Akimat together with interested government agencies in two days to complete the forecast of future flooding on the river Zhaiyk," the speaker said.

On this basis, the Akimat is developing a specific plan for the construction of protective dams and structures, bypass and discharge channels of the city of Atyrau and neighbouring districts. In general, about 9 thousand people, 234 units of equipment, 36 water pumping and swimming means, including 460 personnel from the Ministry of Defence, 30 units of equipment, as well as 100 volunteers are involved in the rescue work. Work is being carried out to reinforce dams, laying sackcloth, as well as blasting. The situation is under the control of the Akim of the region and the country's leadership.

Meanwhile, 243 residential houses remain flooded in Kostanay region, overflows continue on 65 sections of motorways. 5 places of roadbed and 1 bridge have been washed away. A total of 7,537 people have been evacuated, including 1,239 children. In four districts (Amangelda, Dzhangelda, Karasu, Kostanay) and the cities of Kostanay and Arkalyk declared local emergencies. In the city of Arkalyk and Amangelda district commissions on assessment and compensation of material damage from the flood continue to work. According to the forecast, from 8 to 12 April precipitation in the form of rain with a transition to snow is expected. To date, due to the increase in discharges from reservoirs, the greatest flood danger is posed by the Tobol, Toguzak, Ayat and Tyuntugur rivers. Shore protection works, construction of temporary dams and water pumping are being carried out. In general in the region there are still risks of waterlogging in 80 settlements of 14 districts and three cities.

In Akmola region 75 residential houses remain waterlogged, overflows continue on 47 sections of motorways. A total of 675 people have been evacuated, including 102 children. Snow coverage in the region is 57%. In Kokshetau city a local emergency has been declared. From 8 to 11 April precipitation is expected in the form of rain, at night with a transition to snow. Significant rise in water level is observed on the rivers Esil, Nura, Zhylandy, Arshaly, Shagalaly, Kalkutan and Zhabai.

Today, a number of settlements are flooded due to water out of the Esil river bed. Also, as a result of water releases from the Astana reservoir, the filling of which is 100%, there are risks of flooding of three settlements of Arshaly district, located in the floodplain part of the river Yesil.

"In the region, the risks of waterlogging remain in 117 settlements in 12 districts and 3 cities. Works on pumping out water, strengthening of dams and bunding of settlements are being carried out," Deputy Prime Minister  said.

Kanat Bozumbayev also added that in Karaganda region, water from 41 houses flooded during the flood period has been completely pumped out. At present, there is a decrease in inflows and discharges from the Samarkand, Intumak and Sherubai-Nura reservoirs. As a whole in the Nura and Sherubai-Nura river basin there is a decline in water level, decrease in inflows and discharges from the main reservoirs. The situation in the province is stable. A commission on assessment and compensation of material damage from the flood is working.

According to Deputy Prime Minister, in North Kazakhstan region the most difficult situation is in 8 districts out of 13. Snow coverage is from 38% to 50%. There is still a threat of flooding of 262 settlements. At the moment 12 houses out of 38 remain flooded. 121 people have been evacuated, 36 have returned home. Flooded 109 household territories.

"In the city of Petropavlovsk and Taiynshynsky district, a local emergency regime has been declared. According to the short-term forecast, 2.4-3.6 million cubic metres of water is expected to flow to the Sergeevskoye reservoir, the norm is 1, 2 million. As of 7 April, the filling capacity of the Sergeevskoye reservoir, located on the Yesil River, is 163%. In the region, 540 people and 233 units of equipment are involved in emergency rescue work, life support facilities are functioning normally," Bozumbayev said.

Work is being carried out to strengthen existing dams and increase their length, taking into account the emerging flood situation. 

Water is completely pumped out of houses and in the West Kazakhstan region. From the beginning of floods there were flooded 581 houses. But overflows continue on 5 sections of motorways. A total of 7,848 people have been evacuated, including 3,665 children. In four districts (Karatobinsky, Burlinsky, Syrymsky, Terektinsky) and in the city of Uralsk a local emergency has been declared. In the region there is an increase in the level of the river Chagan, today the flow is 680 cubic metres per second, on the river Derkul the water level has decreased. On the river Zhaiyk, according to the forecast of RGP ‘Kazgidromet’, the second wave of flooding is expected.

"According to operational data received from the Russian Federation, as of today the discharge from the Iriklinsky hydroelectric complex was 1,750 cubic metres per second. The period of water running up to the borders of Kazakhstan is 15-20 days. In case of receipt of maximum flow rates of more than 5540 cubic metres per second there are risks of flooding of settlements in West Kazakhstan and Atyrau regions, as well as increased inflow to water management facilities, as a result of which additional risks may arise," Deputy Prime Minister said.

But the inflow to the Aktobe reservoir has stabilised and is 105 metres per second. If the inflow from the upper reaches of the Kargaly river increases by more than 800 cubic metres per second, there are risks of repeated flooding of dacha areas, as these areas are located in the confluence zone of the Kargaly and Ilek rivers. The filling of the Kargaly reservoir is 97%, the inflow is 350 cubic metres per second. 551 residential houses remain flooded in the region, overflows continue on 7 sections of motorways. A total of 10,039 people have been evacuated. 

The situation in the eastern regions of the country remains stable. In Pavlodar region 4 houses out of 38 remain flooded. Overflow continues on 1 road section. In Abay region 22 houses were flooded. The water has been pumped out there now. In East Kazakhstan region most of the territory is covered with snow - 63%. Ice drifting has started on water bodies. The water level on the rivers is below critical levels. From 7 to 12 April in the region are expected rains, including heavy - with a transition to snow. In the south-eastern part of the region on the rivers Kurchum, Kalzhir, Shet-Terekty, Orta-Terekty, Bas-Terekty the process of river opening begins and the water level is expected to rise. The flood peak is expected due to inflows at the end of the third decade of April. There is a threat of flooding of settlements in Kurchum and Markakol districts. In the region in case of complication of flood situation forces and means have been put on standby.

#Floods #Kanat Bozumbayev #Regions

Stay updated about the events of the Prime Minister and the Government of Kazakhstan - subscribe to the official Telegram channel

Subscribe