Kazakhstan's Prime Minister, Olzhas Bektenov, has inspected the progress of flood prevention measures in the Atyrau Region as part of the President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's directives, according to reports from the government's press service on April 24, 2024.
During the inspection, Bektenov assessed Atyrau's readiness for the anticipated second wave of floods. The situation remains complex due to water discharge from the Irtysh Reservoir in Russia and the significant inflow of water from the river's tributaries, leading to rising water levels.
Following the peak of floods in the West Kazakhstan Region, the floodwaters are now moving towards the Atyrau Region, causing a 6 cm rise in water levels in the past day and a total increase of 227 cm since the beginning of the floods.
Prime Minister Bektenov instructed to increase efforts by promptly deploying military personnel and equipment to the Atyrau Region from areas where flood situations are stabilizing. Currently, 92% of flood prevention measures have been completed, with the city divided into 111 sectors and 482 km of protective dams constructed and inspected.
Furthermore, dredging works are being carried out to increase the water flow capacity from the river into the Caspian Sea. Specialized fleet vessels and hydraulic excavators are being used for cleaning, deepening, and widening waterways.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan stated that continuous flood prevention activities are being conducted in Atyrau to prevent flood situations along the Zhayyk River in several rural areas and villages.
In the Jiloi District, efforts are focused on post-flood recovery, including restoring electricity and gas supply, disinfecting homes, providing financial assistance to affected residents, and assessing and compensating for damages.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan announced that water released from the Irtysh Reservoir in Russia is expected to raise water levels in the Ural (Zhayyk) River. The peak of the flood in Atyrau is forecasted for early May, as stated by the emergency response headquarters in the Atyrau Region on April 24, 2024.
