The Prime Minister and Head of the Republican Headquarters for Coordinating Flood Prevention Activities, Olzhas Bektenev, inspected the progress of ongoing work and measures to implement the President's directives in the West Kazakhstan Region. The region is facing a complex flood situation, with Bektenev personally assessing the state of the Zhaiyk River bed during an aerial survey. He gave instructions to maximize water accumulation in reservoirs to reduce pressure on populated areas.
After inspecting the constructed dams, Bektenev emphasized the importance of maintaining the current pace of work to ensure maximum protection for the residents' lives, health, and property. He noted that protective dams have been built to contain the dangerous water levels, with the main focus now on protecting the cities of Uralsk and Atyrau.
Bektenev highlighted the collaborative efforts involving local authorities, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Defense, the National Guard, and volunteers to safeguard the regions. He emphasized the need for a contingency plan for the forced evacuation of residents who refuse to leave their homes in flood-prone areas, with vacant houses under police surveillance.
Additionally, the Prime Minister instructed local authorities to clarify the compensation process for flood damage to address residents' concerns about the application deadlines. Bektenev emphasized the importance of accepting applications promptly without bureaucratic delays to ensure timely assistance to those affected by the floods.
In a separate development, heavy trucks carrying humanitarian aid from Kyrgyzstan have arrived in the West Kazakhstan Region. The floods in 2024 have posed a significant natural disaster affecting both Kazakhstan and Russia, causing the most extensive damage in the past 80 years, according to experts.
